SCOTT KRAMER By
DISTANCE
YOU'LL NOTICE
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1. CLEVELAND Choose from three lightweight-shaft models of Cleveland’s Ultralite ($299),
based on your swing type and shot preferences.
If you want Tour-preferred workability, take a
swing with the TL 310. for distance and control,
play the SL 290. If extreme clubhead speed and
lightness is your thing, opt for the XL 270 (in
neutral and draw versions).
underwhelming drivers have become commonplace in recent years. frankly, they’re a result of their own success:
because technology has gotten so darned good,
it’s difficult for manufacturers to catapult your
tee-shot distance by yet another 15 yards…
every year. So if you bought a new model two
years ago, you probably couldn’t find much on
the market last year that provided you notable
distance improvement.
This year, though, club manufacturers have
stepped up big time with some very innovative
drivers. for example, you’ll see a further
emphasis on adjustability. In previous models,
when you fine-tuned one characteristic of a
driver, such as lie angle, it would have a ripple
effect on other characteristics of the driver.
That’s no longer the case with some of the
newer models. So now when you modify, say,
the loft on some of these latest drivers, the
clubface angle doesn’t automatically veer open
or closed as it did in past models.
In 2011, your toughest challenge may very
well be choosing a winner from among all of
the excellence.
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2. COBRA The tall titanium clubface of Cobra’s
S3 ($375) may look like any other, but it’s built
smarter than most. It’s actually hotter where
most golfers mis-hit the ball: from low heel to
high toe. The face also sports a beveled perimeter to help fortify the cause.
3. TAYLORMADE TaylorMade’s white-crowned
R11 ($399) is actually 48 drivers in one. That’s
because you can quickly change an adjustable
hosel, sole plate and interchangeable weights
to 48 different combinations, each with its own
unique ball flight. Just pick your preferred loft,
face angle, and weight, then swing away.
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4. CALLAWAY amp up your tee shots with help
from the “forged composite” crown on Callaway’s 460cc Diablo Octane ($299) that was co-developed with Lamborghini. This lightweight,
strong material complements the otherwise
titanium clubhead, to help generate plenty of
clubhead speed. The standard shaft is a lengthy
46 inches.
5. TITLEIST Titleist is offering two flavors of its
new 910 drivers ($399), the 460cc D2 and the
445cc D3, both of which allow you to adjust the
loft and lie independently. both models have
an oversized clubface to maximize distance, a
sloped crown to get the ball in the air and loads
of Tour experience already.
