A few weeks ago I asked for some volunteers totest and review the latest equipment that's beenlanding in-store. Over the coming weeks I willbe reviewing different products with theassistance of my volunteers. This week we arereviewing irons with the help of a lowhandicapper. The reviews to follow will be froma mid-handicapper and a higher handicappedgolfer.

Tester- Stuart Cohen - Member at Pyecombe Golf Club(Handicap 6)
Current Irons: TaylorMadeRocketballz Tour

Each7-iron tested below was given to Stuart for 10balls and I recorded the results (on SkyTrak inthe Swing Studio) and comments from Stuart atthe time of hitting.


Titleist716 AP2 - The club felt softoff the face, yet hot. You could feel the ballspring off the face. The clubs looks nice andhad a smallish head. I like the look and feel. AverageTotal - 144 yards.

Titleist716 AP1 - It feels lighter thanthe AP2 and has a bigger head. It had a harderfeel, more of a click, but this is not a badfeeling. Average Total - 147 yards.

CallawayXR Pro - The club has a thickertop edge but with a smaller head. It feltelectric off the face - WOW - and I can feel theextra yardage, like it trampolines off the face.I'm not keen on the look but could definitelyget over that for performance. AverageTotal - 159 yards.

CallawayXR - The club looks very bigand fat but very forgiving. It feels heavy atthe clubhead / bottom heavy. Again it feels hotoff the face - 'such a difference' to my clubs -however it doesn't feel as nice as the XR Pro. AverageTotal - 151 yards.

CallawayApex 16 - I really like thelook and satin finish, however it doesn't feelas quick off the face as the XR irons. It doesfeel very nice and softer than other irons; youcan feel the difference between a forged headand a cast metal head. Average Total- 154 yards.

CallawayApex Pro 16 - 'Ohh' - This is alovely looking club, without doubt the bestlooking club in the test. It feels really niceand well balanced, however the performance doesnot match the look. Average Total - 144yards.

TaylorMadeRSi 1 - The club feels verylight and I like the satin finish on the topedge. Feels nice off the face but not aspowerful as other models. Average Total- 144 yards.

TaylorMadePSi - This is a very nicelooking club and feels nice of the face. Average Total- 138 yards.

TaylorMadeM2 - It feels very light but wellbalanced. It had a very big head (looks like ahybrid). The clubs had a very hard and solidfeel. It gives limited feedback from the headbut felt incredibly forgiving. AverageTotal - 151 yards (longest singleshot in test at 165).


All in all, here are the final results:

BestLooking - Callaway Apex Pro 
Best Feel - Callaway XR Pro -Powerful, exciting and electric 
Top Performing - Callaway XRPro (Longest Average at 159 yards)

Ifyou'd like to try out any of these productsplease come and see us in-store or getin touch here.

  

I'mpleased to announce we are holding our secondDemo Day of the year this month. On Wednesday,30 March from 12 noon until 4pm, Titleistwill be holding an Indoor Demo Dayin our Swing Studio. Come and be custom fittedfor drivers, fairways, hybrids, irons or the newVokey SM6 wedges - at no cost with no obligationto buy! The demo day will be by pre-arrangedappointments only. 

To book your spot today click here.

 

This week I had the pleasure of playing RoyalSt. George's in Kent with GregKemsley, General Manager at Hassocks Golf Club.St. George's last held the Open Championship in2011 when Darren Clarke tasted victory. Weexperienced every weather condition that isavailable, from calm winds and sunshine (butstill very cold) to 50 mph winds and a sleet andsnow storm. Not what you expect playing inMarch, it didn't feel like spring had arrivedjust yet!

Itis always a great experience to playChampionship golf courses and whilst the TourProfessionals tend to play in slighter niceconditions, it is definitely a reminder of howgood they are.

  

As spring fast approaches and the course startsto dry up, I hope you are all looking forward togetting out and playing some golf. The greensare running great at the moment thanks to agreat effort from Brendon and Steve. I amlooking forward to welcoming Richard, the newHead Greenkeeper to Hassocks and can't wait tosee what changes he will bring. 

There are two competitions coming up to get theseason off to a good start - 1st the RyderCup on 20th March and the followingweek is the 1st major of the season, the EasterCup. I would be great to see as manypeople out in both of these competitions fromall four sections of the club.


 

Winter Eclectic - The firstquarter of the Winter Eclectic was completedwith all six weekend monthly competitions beingplayed. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same forthe 2nd quarter, with both January Medal andStableford being cancelled due to the weather.The Gross Competition was won by Steve Baugh(66) and runner-up was Wade Ayling (68); theNett Competition was won by Mark Page (53) whobeat Steve Baugh on countback. The winners willget £20 on their shop account and runners-up£10. Congratulations and well played Steve atthe top of both lists. With only two morecompetitions to go in this quarter's eclectic,good luck to all those playing.

Junior Section - We are holdinga raffle to be drawn at the Easter Prizegiving.All profits are to fund the junior team to keepup the excellent work that Laurie Cassar and hisband of boys have been doing for some years now.The prize is a SkyCaddie GPS watch worth £130,tickets are on sale 5 for £5 from either Lee inthe Pro Shop or Richard in the bar.