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The Callaway Killer - TaylorMade’s new 300 Series (TM) Metal Woods

By: Dr. Barry Lotz

Ever so infrequently, something special arrives on the saturated golf equipment market and this year has been no exception.

With the annual PGA Show in January 2001, the driver manufacturers are cranking up for what appears to be, more confusing assortments of drivers for anyone who wants to buy a "big dog" from the illegal to the legal. Standing tall and shoulders above the rest is TaylorMade’s recently launched 300 Series (TM) Metal Woods.

As a golf writer specializing in equipment, I can assuredly confirm that these drivers are so very good. Awesome is an understatement. Not since the launch of the PING ISI driver, has another driver come onto the market with such demand and acclaim. The original Big Bertha changed drivers forever. So too will the 300 series. TaylorMade is totally convinced that with these drivers and their new, yet unnamed "TaylorMade" golf ball, they will wrestle the number One driver spot back from Callaway with a range so diverse, it will compete with not only Callaway, but every other major manufacturer.

Already the driver has been responsible for 21 tour wins worldwide in the short time it has been available and on the European Tour, there is a line to use se one! Popular?…you bet it is. Retailers are selling them at an unbelievable pace. Sales Success: has broken all other retail sell-in records in TaylorMade history – the most successful product launch ever.

The new drivers from TaylorMade

On the US Tour, more PGA pros have played Taylor Made drivers this year than those of any other manufacturer. The Darrell Survey report shows players have used Taylor Made drivers 368 times this season to date. That is nine more than its nearest competitor.

The new 300 Series (TM) Metal Woods have led the charge, pushing Taylor Made to win the weekly Darrell Survey PGA driver count twelve times in a row.

There are three models in the range, the 300Ti, 320Ti and the 360Ti and each can be fitted with a variety of shafts to suit so that the customer can get completely "dialed in" to the club he or she needs to get full distance and accuracy from their game.

Our 25 testers have done all the hard work in testing it for you and no matter what driver you use, Taylor Made have built one to suit you and not damage your pocket too much for the privilege! They will retail at $399 and are available in VERY limited quantities right now.

Els won at Loch Lomond using the 320i

The 300Ti driver is designed primarily for those players sporting a 12 or better handicap - those who might use a Titleist 975D, the Great Big Bertha or the PING ISI for example. The size is similar to the PING ISI (360Ti model) and the 975D (310Ti model) with a deep face and higher center of gravity offering a lower trajectory but still with plenty of carry and extraordinary amounts of roll on landing.

Compared to the Titleist, with a +1 handicap amateur hitting them both, the 300 series won on looks, distance and accuracy…and it was very difficult just to prize it out of his hands once he realized that he could add 15-yards to his game and still find the fairways!

The looks of the 300Ti are traditional, elegant and simple. The gunmetal finish is such an improvement from the well-known Copper color TaylorMade favored in the past, giving the driver an all-new look. (We suggest a similar colored golf bag to be appropriate as well). The performance is pretty awesome too…unless you put it head to head against the 320Ti driver!

Every one of our testers reported that this was simply the best driver they have hit in a long time. Ball flight and feel being the two most voiced opinions. (the "baddest", the most awesome were also used considerably). Another oft mentioned quality of this series of drivers was the great sound on contact. None of the "tinny" sound usually associated with Titanium drivers.

Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Patrik Sjoland, Thomas Bjorn, Ian Leggat, Larry Nelson, John Bland, Larry Nelson, Mark O’Meara and a host of other Taylor Made staff professionals use the 320Ti. Once you hit it, you immediately know why!

The ball flight is strong, high and very penetrating. Where you might get a "ballooning" flight with other Titanium drivers, especially into a strong headwind, the 320Ti tends to dip at the top of its ball flight and run on landing adding yet more yardage!!! Who knows how they do it, but it does it! And it works!

The 320Ti is a direct competitor to the Callaway Hawk Eye series and while both drivers are excellent, first impressions suggest that it will be difficult to separate them in a head to head test. Both clubs do what golfers want drivers to do. Another outstanding benefit of this driver, unlike many other drivers…is the ability our testers had to hit this off the deck with apparent ease!

Three of a kind

TaylorMade all but guarantees that this particular driver will be the most popular in the range and when fitted with the correct shaft for one’s personal specifications, which any good TaylorMade supplier can do for you, you are bound to make the decision that this driver will get top spot in your bag before long.

As for the third of the Series, the 360Ti has been described as a "Wok on the end of a shaft". While the 360cc head is rather large and similar to the PING ISI, TaylorMade have made it light and easy to swing. It is not cumbersome; the ball goes off the face like a rocket and is so big you can't miss the sweet-spot!

You can tee it high or low and like the others, hit it off the deck too! If your current driver is a Ping ISI or the Ti-Bubble 2 you might want to try this against them.

Larry Nelson, US Senior Tour player has used all three drivers to win numerous tournaments – 6 in fact. What better testimonial can one need?

In summation: Callaway and the rest of the driver manufacturers have some serious competition. The inventors of the metal wood are out to claim their number One spot back…and from our testing, these are the clubs that will get TaylorMade back to the front of the pack!

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association and the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America and a contributing writer to numerous national magazines. He can be reached at drlotz@cbsgolf.com