| Let's face it! Golf
is war. Specifically, the drivers are the opening salvo off the
first tee - the machismo and bravado are on display. "Show
me what you got" and "I can hit it further than you can"
are the insinuated subliminal emotions that can be felt by whomever
are within 20 feet of the tee box.
Each year we feature those drivers that are in the greatest demand,
perform exceptionally well and are the "buzz' of the American
male golfer.
This year, we will focus on those drivers that are not from the
"major" manufacturers but rather from those smaller
companies with less marketing dollars but still put out a stunning
and powerful driver.
To this end, this article will cover those drivers that have
made the biggest explosion in terms of actual performance and
hype. These are "powerful" tools compared to just 2-3
years ago. The most ubiquitous marketing themes seems to be that
each manufacturer is into comparison testing of their driver versus
those of the major manufacturers and stressing that their particular
driver's C.O.R. (.83) is at the maximum legal limit for a driver
head.
As always, before purchasing any of these drivers, take them
out for a test flight.
Until now, perfect launch conditions have been reserved for higher
swing speed players and PGA Tour pros. Research shows that these
players produce the optimum launch angle (the initial angle at
which the shot leaves the clubface) of approximately 12-14 degrees,
combined with a ball spin rate of 2800-3000 rpm for maximum driving
distance.
However, today's drivers make it a lot easier for slower swinging
golfers to achieve those numbers.
We have identified the following six drivers as being the most
popular in 2003:
Tour Edge's JMax
The Bazooka JMAX changes all that. Now, all golfers can achieve
the same optimal launch angle and spin rate sought after by today's
top professionals.
The JMAX's club head technology not only maximizes distance, it
also offers the ultimate in forgiveness. The perfect 410cc titanium
body and cold rolled Beta Titanium face utilizes the best, most
expensive Japanese titanium in golf. Pushing the outer limits
of forgiveness and distance, the 47.5 cm2 face area provides an
enormous sweet spot and turns out the maximum .83-rebound rate
allowed by the USGA.
 To
achieve perfect launch conditions, the JMAX adjusts three key
elements of its design for each loft: Face progression, sole weighting,
and shaft technology. By slightly varying these key elements,
each individual can achieve an optimum launch angle and spin rate
based on their swing speed.
Slower swing speed players cannot generate the spin and launch
angle necessary for maximum distance, so Tour Edge combined the
ideal head design and shaft technology in the JMAX driver for
slower-swing-speed players. For instance, the 11.5° driver
features the most face progression for a deeper center of gravity
(CG) and the most sole weight for a lower CG. These features put
more weight behind and below the ball for perfect spin and trajectory.
To further optimize launch conditions, Tour Edge engineers called
on the experts at Fujikura, the leader in shaft technology. By
incorporating a tip weighted, low kick point ultra-light shaft
into the JMAX driver design, even the slowest swing can maximize
launch angle and spin rate.
The opposite configuration of the JMAX driver fits fast-swing-speed
players. In the 8.5-degree head, less face progression and less
sole weight create a higher CG. Coupled with a raised kick point
in the shaft, the 8.5-degree JMAX produces the ideal launch conditions
for faster swing speeds.
Its sharp, sophisticated looks and color scheme appealed to all
of our testers.
Lofts are available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° and 11.5°
MSRP: $299.00 www.touredgegolf.com
Adams Golf Redline Driver
Adams has made enormous inroads on the Champions Tour and having
the 2003 British Senior Open winner, Tom Watson, as their spokesperson,
has definitely catapulted Adams back into the forefront as one
of the leading golf manufacturers.
 The
titanium Redline driver is a 460 cc driver, the largest currently
available from a premium club maker. The club is designed to have
almost a 33% larger sweet spot for both maximum distance and "ease
of use". The titanium allows for the strategic placement
of 90 grams of weight, a hotter face and explosive distance. Tungsten
Perimeter Weighting provides straighter shots and up to 59% more
forgiveness.
This driver has a deep, squarish face, a wide, wide sole and
a big, round topside. At address, the club looks very large, but
still reassuringly manageable. In spite of all this mass, the
Redline is a good-looking driver. Its sharp, sophisticated looks
appealed to all of our testers.
Adams provides a Fujikura G60 shaft as their standard offering
- an excellent choice that offers the user a crisp snap and energetic
zip through impact. The extremely popular Fujikura shaft definitely
complements this head beautifully.
Lofts are available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°
Most models offer flexes in Senior, Regular, Stiff, and X-Stiff
shaft flexes.
MSRP: $299.00 www.adamsgolf.com
Purespin
The most distinguishable feature of the Purespin 4-70 driver
is its sound. This is one unbelievably loud driver, which makes
a really big, metallic noise at impact. Rather unnerves one's
opponents.
 To
say that the sound that the Purespin makes a loud crackling
T-WAINK sound would be the understatement of the year.
So loud is the noise that one can actually hear it three holes
away! To be accurate, the word "t-waink" would have
to be more than just emboldened and capitalized; it would have
to be three times as large and made to shimmer back and forth.
Every Purespin driver is heat treated with diamonds in a vacuum
oven to create a face harder than any other on the market. By
maximizing the coefficient of restitution (COR), the benefit is
longer drives. All 4 - 70 Series drivers feature a titanium face
made of SP700, for the maximum COR. Utilizing the unique Impact
Surface Control System, allows the titanium face to be forged
on to an advanced composite polymer body. The drivers range in
size from 270 to 470cc. At 470cc, the club offers the largest
"sweet spot" and most forgiving surface for mis-hits.
Titanium heads have a size limit, but combining a titanium face
with a composite graphite body, decrease weight while achieving
a larger hitting surface. Because of the lighter head weight,
the average player can swing the club a little faster, the most
significant ingredient to adding distance. Minimizing the bulge-and-roll
also adds distance off the tee. The 470 model is consistently
20 to 30 yards longer than many of the major manufacturer drivers,
but equal to many other drivers with large heads all while staying
just as accurate. The size of the head takes a little getting
used to, as does the funny sound contact with the ball produces.
At first, our testers all found the sound to be somewhat grating
on the nerves, but as the sessions progressed, and the Purespin
continued to produce good results, all hitters eventually adjusted
to the excess aural input. In fact, it became a good feedback
device. Prime, sweet spot hits make the loudest and highest pitched
sounds of all wherein the
t-waink becomes a t-wack.
Lofts are available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°
Most models offer flexes in Senior, Regular, Stiff, and X-Stiff.
MSRP: $299.00 www.purespin.com
LJC Golf (formerly La Jolla Club Golf Company)
Following the success of their previous titanium drivers, LJC
Golf's new 450 Titanium driver has a 10° loft and will also
be available in a 14° Hi-Launch loft in the Fall of 2003.
This 14° driver is designed to provide a higher trajectory
with optimum distance. Most golfers today, would in fact, benefit
dramatically if they switched to a higher loft. Each of our testers
was totally flabbergasted with the feel, responsiveness and especially
the ball flight and distance achieved from this driver. "Hitting
it on the screws is magical" was their most common response.
 The
color scheme has been upgraded to a sophisticated dark blue that
is very easy on the eye. Golfers can choose from a wide variety
of shafts to optimize the performance of the club based on their
own swing speed and tempo.
The LJC Titanium Driver Series includes the 300 (8° loft),
350 (9° loft), and 400 (9° & 10° loft) models.
Based on shaft selection, the suggested retail price for the
450 Titanium Driver ranges from $299 to $599. www.ljcgolf.com
800-468-7700
GolfGear's Tsunami Driver
GolfGear's new Tsunami driver is the flagship of GolfGear's
line of technologically advanced products, and is based on GolfGear's
proprietary, multi-patented forged-face insert technology. The
new 2003 360 cc. and 400 cc. Tsunami drivers have a very unique
top dome design. The "Wave Design" structurally strengthens
the entire club head. This maximizes energy transfer to the hitting
area, thus preventing energy loss in the head. A new SPEED SLOT
TOE wraps around the entire head, reducing drag and head flutter
and removing unwanted mass thereby increasing club head speed
without sacrificing accuracy. A new weight port enables the weight
of each club to be within one gram resulting in greater distance
and enhanced control for the player.
 From
what we can ascertain, The Tsunami driver has one of the strongest
heads in golf. Its Multi-Patented forged face insert maximizes
energy transfer to the ball and that's where it counts. The Tsunami
driver features a 10-2-3 beta titanium forged-face insert, which
has been double-struck to maximize density evenly throughout the
entire hitting area, and is fused into an investment cast beta
titanium body. 10-2-3 beta titanium was developed by the aerospace
industry for use in aircraft applications that require light weight,
high tensile strength and durability, and is both stronger and
denser than conventional titanium alloys.
GolfGear was founded by Don Anderson in 1989, and features a
full line of proprietary golf equipment. GolfGear's patent portfolio
with respect to insert technology is the largest and most comprehensive
in the golf industry, with nine domestic and foreign patents issued
related to forged-face insert technology. These patents incorporate
a wide variety of forged-face insert materials, including titanium,
beryllium copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and
related alloys thereof, and include technology able to vary the
face thickness of the insert.
Gerry James, a GolfGear staff member and currently the number
one money winner on the Long Drive Tour is also the holder of
the pending world's longest drive record with a 473-yard drive
using the company's new Tsunami driver.
The body of the Tsunami driver utilizes GolfGear's contour dome
design, which stabilizes club head geometry at impact to ensure
consistent performance. The Tsunami driver is plated with a tungsten
cobalt coating to harden the hitting surface and protect the club
head.
GolfGear also offers several custom shaft options. Their standard
shaft is the Tsunami shaft designed and manufactured by Graphite
Design, and is in the mid-50 gram range. This is a very light,
low torque shaft with a mid-kick point. Other shafts are available
upon request and prices may vary. Also offered are the Graphite
Design YS Series shafts, and the Fujikura Vista Pro Series.
Our testers were very surprised how good the driver felt and
the distances achieved on a consistent basis. RANKMARK Testing
rated the Tsunami Driver - #1 in distance in 2003.
The Tsunami driver comes in 300cc (9°) and 340cc (10°),
and the new 360 cc (11°). Also available will be new deep-faced
models in 300cc (8°) and 400cc (8° - 11°).
Depending on shaft selection, the Tsunami has a basic suggested
retail price of $499.95.
GolfGear International www.golfgearint.com
800.955.6440
M.A.C. Powersphere Driver by Burrows Golf
Burrows Golf is the latest entrant into the golf domain. The
company caused quite a stir at this year's PGA Show in Orlando
with elaborate booths and more importantly, packed to the brim
at the demo day. Since then the company has made major inroads
into the Champions Tour and into the pro shops countrywide. Its
product is the M.A.C. (Magnitude Amplification Cavity) Powersphere
driver and woods, all rather unique clubs that look as if someone
gouged a bowl out of the bottom or decided it should store a golf
ball on the bottom. This domed cavity is designed to redirect
shockwaves created at impact, which normally travel to the rear
of the club head and up the shaft, back to the clubface resulting
in a "hotter", more responsive clubface and greater
energy transfer.
 In
any event it is backed by some sound science and it's USP (Unique
Selling Proposition), is it's remarkable club-fitting system supposedly
designed by Ferrari. The company has devised special club-fitting
demo models, all contained to fit in a single golf bag, with which
you can simply unscrew the shaft from the club head, screw in
a different shaft and lock it in place with a small tool. Using
this threading technology takes about 30 seconds and then you
can go out and play with that club. Don't like the shaft? A M.A.C.
fitting bag typically includes 17 different driver heads and 30
different shafts. At least 14 of these shafts are exotic shafts
such as the Fujikura Speeder, Graphite Design YS-6 and Grafalloy
Blue. Simply screw in a different shaft and go back out to test
the driver until you find the "perfect" driver - loft
and shaft, that's right for you.
The system is ingenious, has 540 combinations and absolves the
dealer from carrying a large inventory of demo clubs.
Titanium drivers are available in two sizes, 421cc with a two-degree
closed face and 350cc with draw and square face. Stainless steel
fairway woods come in 3, 5, 7 and 9 models.
Our testers found the Powersphere to be long off the tee and
have a great feel.
MSRP: $399.00 www.burrowsgolf.com 1.866.622.4653
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional
Golf Teachers Association of America. He is also a member of the
Golf Writers Association of America and the California Golf Writers
Association and a Mediator for the golf industry. He is a contributing
writer to numerous national magazines. He can be reached at drlotz@cbsgolf.net
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