The Trouble with the Gap Wedge

For this Reader Review, we asked our participants to tell us why their current gap wedge gives them fits.  For some, it was chipping.  For others, it was distance control or trajectory.  No matter what the problem, Edison was confident that their Edison 2.0 wedge could solve it.  Based on the results – 5/5 golfers keeping the Edison 2.0 in the bag – it seems like they were right.

Check out of staff review of the Edison 2.0 wedge HERE

Reader Review #1

Name: Donald Conner

Handicap: 22

Previous Gap Wedge: Cobra F9 Speedback

Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge Loft & Shaft: 52° (53° bent 1° weaker) KBS Tour 110 Regular

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on full shots? I still had some issue with distance control and full shots, but that could also be a matter of getting used to the heavier head.  I absolutely liked the tighter dispersion on full shots versus my existing gap wedge. My line in was much more consistent.  I think with more play the distance control itself will become far more consistent.

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on partial shots and chips? Again this took some getting used to, likely because of the weight of the head, but once I had the feel for it, I was definitely noticing more spin and control versus my existing wedge.  After a few rounds, I could tell the exact distance it was going to go if I went to my waist or my shoulder or even putting stroke. It was very nice having that confidence of the distance control.

How did the Edison 2.0 feel? While I am definitely not a feel player, I could definitely tell a center strike versus something closer to the hosel or the toe.  More importantly, the off-center sheets that were not “pure” or far more consistent and far less punishing than my existing gap wedge.

How did the Edison 2.0 address your primary problem with your current gap wedge? The primary problem with my current gap wedge was on full swings, my distance control, and being confident with the distance I was going to hit could vary by as much as 15 to 20 yards. While I still had some variance in the distance control. I’m sure part of that is my swing not the club. I would say that it was more like 10 yards of difference, however, as I mentioned previously the pulling left in the fading to the right was significantly less. Even if my distance was not accurate, the line was much more accurate making much easier putts.

Will the Edison 2.0 be your new gamer? This club will absolutely be staying in the bag if for no other reason than the straighter line on full shots. Again, I also liked knowing I was going to get a consistent distance, depending on the speed of the green, of course, with a quarter swing, a half swing and a three-quarter swing. I also noticed much more spin than I would normally get with my handicap level.

Reader Review #2

Name: Brandon Rowe

Handicap: 11.9

Previous Gap Wedge: Mizuno JPX 921 Forged w/ Nippon 120 S shaft (set matched and 50deg loft)

Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge Loft & Shaft: 50deg w/ KBS Tour 120 S shaft

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on full shots?  Based on the objective data, there wasn’t a significant difference.  I did observe that the ball flight was higher with the Edison wedge as well as it carried 3 yards further with a similar launch angle.

• Gamer: 101 carry, 112 total, height of 73ft and 35deg launch angle
• Edison: 105 carry, 116 total, height 80ft and 36deg launch angle

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on partial shots and chips?  My partial shot is what I feel is a 3/4 length swing from my full swing at 90% speed.  Based on the data, the Edison wedge came up a little short on carry distance.  I felt that I was making the same swing as I did with my set gap wedge; not sure if this is maybe due to the different shaft or just my unfamiliarity with it.  I wasn’t looking at the numbers throughout the test, I just kept trying to make the same 3/4 swing.

• Gamer: 91 carry, 103 total, height of 59ft and 33deg launch angle
• Edison: 85 carry, 96 total, height 57ft and 34deg launch angle

How did the Edison 2.0 feel? Edison wedge felt significantly better than my set matched gap wedge; it was much more obvious where on the face the ball made contact.  Also, the sound was much crisper than my gamer wedge, especially when struck in the center.

How did the Edison 2.0 address your primary problem with your current gap wedge? In short, I believe so, but not based on the numbers.  My primary concern was using my gap wedge for partial shots in the 85-90 yard range, which I found with my set wedge they would tend to sail and come up short.  Initially, I used put the Edison gap wedge in play on course over two 9-hole rounds (work has really gotten in the way of golf lately), but only used it for four shots and not really seeing any performance improvement.  Finally, this evening, I was able to do a head-to-head comparison at the range with both clubs.  After warming up, I worked through 20 shots with each club, taking 10 full swings – which is about 90% for me with my gap wedge – and 10 3/4 length partial swings.  Note, I tossed out and re-did any poorly struck shots.  For me, this is where the Edison wedge really stood out!  Not because I hit it farther or flighted it lower, but because I was able to get through each set of 10 shots with really good consistency.  Whereas with my set matched gap wedge, I found myself having to “redo” 6 shots throughout the test because I hit it a little fat or chunky and it ended up short, I didn’t seem to have this inconsistent contact, low or high on the face, with the Edison wedge.  It just went through the turf really nice and consistently.  For me, that was the difference; towards the end of the test, I was just super confident I was going to make good contact with the ball.

Additional Notes: I won’t lie, initially I was a little disappointed Terry contacted me to ask if I would be ok with the KBS Tour 120 shaft, instead of the Nippon 115 wedge shaft that I have in my specialty wedges; however, after testing the Edison wedge, I’m second guessing my fitting for my irons (my irons are Nippon 120 shafts).  I was fit at a big box retailer, so my only shaft options were the stock available ones they had on the cart, which didn’t include KBS.  I really liked the feel of this shaft and it resulted in a better dispersion pattern than the Nippon 120 in my gamer without any real distance loss (maybe because they’re slightly heavier?)… I guess more testing is required.  The trackman range doesn’t provide details on spin and club path, so I’d like to see those numbers as well as try it in a stronger lofted club like a 6 or 7 iron.

Also, take my objective data with a grain of salt – it’s a Trackman range, so they were range balls and the numbers are from the “convert” feature to a premium ball.

Will the Edison 2.0 be your new gamer? Yes.

Reader Review #3

Name: David Sell

Handicap: 16.4

Previous Gap Wedge: Stealth Set AW (49 deg, 1 deg flat, Ventus Red 6R shaft), Titleist Vokey SM8 50 deg F Grind, Stock SM8 Wedgeflex shaft

Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge Loft & Shaft: 49 degree, PGI 80R

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on full shots? Full swings at the range ( grass tee area with range balls of course, but not off of a mat) seemed very similar with all of the gap wedges as far as flight, distance, dispersion, turf interaction, etc.  No discernible difference with the good or poor swings.

On course with a tour caliber ball ( OnCore Elixr), I did notice some differentiation from my previous clubs.  I tried to use the Edison 2.0 almost exclusively during these rounds to provide a fair assessment.  Several shots did seem to flight lower, and the spin, OMG.  I typically hit the ball pretty high with adequate spin.  I generally get very little roll out or spin back.  Where it lands is close to the finish point.  I noticed more spin back, including one into the wind that spun back about 10 feet.  I don’t recall either the Stealth or SM8 coming anywhere close to this.  Based on limited Shot Scope data, yardage was within one yard of the Vokey, and a several yards for the Stealth AW P-Averages.  I suspect over a longer period of time, these would be extremely close in the end.

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on partial shots and chips?  In my opinion, this is where this club really shines, the primary reason I applied for this test, and feel fortunate to have been selected for the reader review.  Last year, my short game was the weakest part of my game.  I’ve seen some improvement this year, partially due to the original Edison wedge, but still plenty of room for improvement.  A shot I have never been able to execute consistently is the low chip and run.  I’ve tried different clubs, but almost always seem to blow it way too far past my target and/ or the hole.  Particularly with the Stealth irons (or any other iron set I’ve had), 7, 8, and yes, the AW.  This was the main reason I purchased the SM8, but still never got anywhere near comfortable trying the shot.  I did keep the SM8 in the bag, carrying two nearly identical clubs.  That problem may just be solved.

The Edison 2.0 is a spin monster when struck well, and felt very natural immediately, even without any practice.  On course this past weekend, I hit a 75 yard, ¾ swing that landed 5 feet left of the pin, bounced forward, and spun right back nearly on top of the ball mark.  Short chips when well struck from a tight lie hit the green, bite real hard, pop up, appear to stop spinning so much I think I can read the logo, and then gently roll toward the hole. My first reaction was holy cow, it hit the green and “knuckleballed”.   Just beautiful !   Noticed this many times at the practice area,  and on the course multiple times.  Out of the rough, still spins well, but more importantly, consistent results. At times I saw very close results from the SM8, but not quite as consistently.  Forgiveness with turf interaction and dispersion seemed better with the 2.0 Edison.   Seems like a significant jump in spin compared to the original Edison.  Not one shot even close in any way with the set AW.

Forgiveness is a big piece of the puzzle for both model Edison wedges.  I’ll be honest, there have been many times this season I have gotten much better results than I deserved with either Edison wedge, because I hit it so poorly.

How did the Edison 2.0 feel? The Feel is what I think this type of club should have.  Very solid over a good area of the face, smooth, and never jumpy.  Shaft is just what I wanted, closer to my iron set, but more stout.  Control is tighter and feels so, on all swing types.  More consistent than the SM8 or RTX-4 wedges I am familiar with.

How did the Edison 2.0 address your primary problem with your current gap wedge? I believe with a little more practice and familiarity, the Edison has a good chance of displacing the set AW for full shots.  My only concern is that it may spin too much, creating a larger yardage gap in that range. The stouter shaft has helped shrink the pull left issue I have on occasion.   In fact, the shaft keeps shots more on target on full and partial shots with both Edison’s, really like the PGI shaft.

As for partial and chip shots, I already feel extremely comfortable with these, literally right out of the box.  Maybe I should have tried practicing a few before pulling it out during a round, but I couldn’t wait to try it, and hit some amazing shots right off the bat.  The shot I most feared and rarely tried, is quickly becoming my go to short game option.  I often leave chips and pitches short using the higher lofted wedges, and so far early results are much closer to the hole.

Additional Notes: The Koehler sole is just different.  The dual bounce can be tricky.  Takes some getting used to, and I’d be lying if I said I’m totally used to it.   I’ve had more chunked chips than I’d care to admit with the 55 Edison, and some have been truly ugly attempts.  However, when you hit it well, the results are spectacular.  The soles are clearly different between the two Edison versions.  For me, the 2.0 version is quite a bit easier/ smoother to hit out of a bunker.  Initially, I really, really struggled with the original version’s sole.  So much so that I considered not gaming it, as I’m accustomed to low bounce wedges.  I still use my 64 RTX4 predominantly out of the bunker for this reason, but I have had some really nice results recently with the Edison’s also.

Will the Edison 2.0 be your new gamer? It is definitely staying in the bag, even if only for chipping.  I suspect it will take over completely, but I’m going to work up to that as it has been just a few weeks.  I have to say I’m a little obsessed with this club right now I like it so much.

Reader Review #4

Name: Stephen Matuzak

Handicap: 8.2

Previous Gap Wedge: Mizuno 921

Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge Loft & Shaft: 49 degree KBS Tour R 110

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on full shots? Great. Buttery soft forged feel, great spin control.

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on partial shots and chips? Great. This is where I gain strokes/ don’t loose strokes and I felt very confident over the ball.

How did the Edison 2.0 feel? Buttery

How did the Edison 2.0 address your primary problem with your current gap wedge? Turf interaction for all types of shots was great.

Additional Notes: Felt like the dreaded chili dip was all but eliminated. I am now curious if I should be playing a full set of these. I feel as though I could be very creative in every situation. Different club head finishes would be a plus!

Will the Edison 2.0 be your new gamer? Yes

Reader Review #5

Name: Andrew Moren

Handicap: 11.7

Previous Gap Wedge: Cleveland RTX 6 Zipcore 50*

Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge Loft & Shaft: 51* with the KBS 110 regular flex shaft (I went with the lighter flex based on the recommendation from Edison’s website)

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on full shots? From a distance standpoint, the 51* Edison was very similar to my 50* Cleveland. As referenced below, I tend to hit my wedges too high and I felt like I was able to keep the flight lower with the Edison wedge. I also had a number of shots where I made fairly poor contact that ended up with a decent result.

How did the Edison 2.0 perform on partial shots and chips? There were a few times (both at the range and on the course) where I was in the zone on partial shots. I do like the regular flex shaft on the wedge and hitting an on-center shot with the Edison wedge was addictive.

How did the Edison 2.0 feel? Overall it felt softer than my gamer. The Cleveland is a lot ‘clickier’ than the Edison, which from my perspective sounded like a duller ‘tock’ (this is a good thing). I really liked the feel of the wedge.

How did the Edison 2.0 address your primary problem with your current gap wedge? I’d say my biggest issue with wedges in general is I tend to launch them too high, and I did notice the ability to flight the ball lower with the Edison wedge.

Will the Edison 2.0 be your new gamer? I’m planning to keep this in the bag for some more extensive testing, but I am definitely impressed based on the first couple weeks of using it. At this point I have no reason to think that it won’t be my gamer going forward.

The post Reader Reviews – Edison 2.0 Gap Wedge appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: David McKay

Handicap: 16

Iron Model: Cobra Forged Tec Black

Previous Iron Shaft: True Temper AMT Tour White S300

How did the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo feel? Feel was great. I was nervous about a more active-feeling shaft, but I never felt that it negatively affected my swing. Feel on pure strikes was fantastic, but they truly shined on mishits where the feedback was strong but didn’t sting the hands.

Did you gain distance with the Nippon shafts? Total distance seemed very similar, possibly slight increase but the cold weather made it hard to compare apples to apples. Carry distance and spin we’re definitely higher.

Have you gained accuracy with the Nippon shafts? Dispersion was definitely better, especially on toe strikes and thin strikes. Multiple shots I felt a mishit and expected to come up well short, but wound up on the fringe.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon shafts? Yes. As a low launch, mid-spin player, I had trouble getting much height on long irons or stopping them on greens.  The higher launch and spin with the Nippon shafts helped substantially with playing over obstacles and holding greens.

Additional notes: The feel and forgiveness on the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo shafts is sensational. The lighter weight made it feel like I didn’t need to swing out of my shoes, and I think it improved my tempo.  Very impressed with the shafts and I think they’re a great fit for a player with decent speed but low launch and spin.

Will the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo be your new gamer? Yes. My biggest hesitation was a shaft feeling too “whippy” as I really enjoy the feeling of Dynamic Gold shafts, but the Nippons hold up well to a 100% swing and provided extra carry on my common mishits, which are thin and toe strikes.

Reader Review #2

Name: Robert Pearson

Handicap: 12

Iron Model: PING G425

Previous Iron Shaft: Ping AWT 2.0 R

How did the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo feel? Wonderful. Kick just right. Feel like graphite but performs like steel. Meaning they go where you aim.

Did you gain distance with the Nippon shafts? Yes. 8 yards consistent through the 5-W.

Have you gained accuracy with the Nippon shafts? Yes. The kick is at the bottom repetitively.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon shafts? Yes!  Much higher on normal swings but can still hit low punches under the wind.

Additional notes: Stops on the green after 1 bounce. Great graphics. Club Champion had my clubs returned in 4 days.

Will the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo be your new gamer? YES!

Reader Review #3

Name: Martin Howard

Handicap: 3

Iron Model: Titleist AP2 718

Previous Iron Shaft: True Temper AMT White Stiff

How did the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo feel? Light but stable at impact. Not whippy at all.

Did you gain distance with the Nippon shafts? Yes, about half a club.

Have you gained accuracy with the Nippon shafts? Very much across all irons.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon shafts? Yes. Flight is higher which I find desirable.

Will the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo be your new gamer? Yes. No doubt about it.

Reader Review #4

Name: Ryan K

Handicap: 13

Iron Model: Miura CB-501

Previous Iron Shaft: MRC OTi 100 Stiff

How did the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo feel? Smooth – as expected from a Nippon shaft.  Clean and crisp – even though it is a steel shaft, it reduces unwanted vibrations very well.  Effortless – it was very easy to feel the shaft load and unload.

Did you gain distance with the Nippon shafts? I definitely did not lose distance, but there were no obvious distance gains either.

Have you gained accuracy with the Nippon shafts? If I swing too aggressively with the Nippons, I hit pull hooks. However, if I swing with an 80% feel, the shots are consistent and accurate.  Partial shots(3/4 and 1/2 swings) were especially good.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon shafts? Yes, the ball flight was higher than what I currently play. It was very easy to hit towering shots even with long irons.  With short irons and PW, the flight was a little too high with my stock swing.  However, I was also surprised to find that I can actually flight the ball lower if I need to.

Additional notes: These Nippons feel better than any other 80g range graphite/steel iron shaft I have tried.  They are smooth and I feel a great connection with the club so as I get older they are definitely something I would consider.  For now they will be in play in my backup bag for colder weather.  Coming from 100g shafts, I did not expect to feel so much difference in weight, but it was very noticeable.  It was not unpleasant in any way, just different.  Grip end of the club is noticeably thinner than my current shafts so will need to build up the grip more.

Will the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo be your new gamer? No they will not be my gamers yet.  I will need more time to get used to them but I am willing to invest the time and effort.

Find our official Plugged In Golf review HERE

The post Reader Review – Nippon NS Pro 850GH Neo Shafts appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: Matthew Masse

Duca del Cosma Shoe Tested: Men’s Churchill Royal Blue

Previous Golf Shoes: FJ

What do you think about the style of the shoes? A more classic style golf shoe, very sharp, clean leather. Love the two tone blue colors.

How comfortable were the shoes? Very soft, form fitting insole.

Were these shoes comfortable for walking? Sturdy support, very comfortable while walking

How did the shoes perform during the swing? No slip, no movement during swing regardless of club or position on the course.

How was the traction? With spikeless outsole, solid, firm traction, especially in the tee box.

Would you recommend Duca del Cosma shoes to other golfers? Yes

Reader Review #2

Name: Stephen Pokora

Duca del Cosma Shoe Tested: Flyer White/Navy

Previous Golf Shoes: Adidas Code Chaos, FootJoy Freestyle 2.0, Puma Ignite BOA

What do you think about the style of the shoes? I love the styling. It is simple and of any golf shoe I’ve worn, they could easily pass for a nice pair of tennis shoes. Could definitely just wear them out and about with a pair of jeans and have nothing to do with golf. White was probably a bad choice, they were hard to keep clean and developed a rub mark on the toe where my right foot rotates at the end of the swing.

How comfortable were the shoes? The shoes were very comfortable right out of the box. They didn’t need to be broken in; I walked 18 the day I got them and had no issues. I was worried about the high heel digging into the back of my heel, but it wasn’t a problem at all.

Were these shoes comfortable for walking? Yes – and I put them through the paces. I walked 8 rounds in 4 days at Bandon – about 60 miles – and wore these shoes for 4 of them (switching to a second pair for the afternoon each day). Although my feet were sore, I don’t think it was because of the shoes with that amount of walking. I found them equally as comfortable as my Puma Ignites that I was wearing.

How did the shoes perform during the swing? I found them to be perfectly fine. I didn’t notice anything good or bad, which I guess is what you want in a shoe.

How was the traction? Traction was good but not the best. I found that the wavy soles of my Adidas and Pumas had a little more traction going up and down hills and on wet grass, but I never had a problem with these shoes.

Any additional comments? The shoes are definitely high quality, well-made, and look great.

Would you recommend Duca del Cosma shoes to other golfers? For the price, I would probably not recommend the white version. One of the big positives of the shoes are the styling, and the white gets dirty fast, as well as the obvious toe rub mark due to swing movements. I think another color that hides the grime a bit better would be easier to recommend. Again – nothing “bad” about these shoes at all. They stood up to a pretty stout test walking at Bandon, but so did my Pumas at half the price.

Reader Review #3

Name: Jennifer Greenop

Duca del Cosma Shoe Tested: Bellezza

Previous Golf Shoes: FootJoy Flex

What do you think about the style of the shoes? I used to have a different FootJoy shoe with the wingtip style and the kiltie covering the laces so I chose this style to test.  I think they are great looking shoes but I would personally remove the kiltie and wear without for a more modern look.  I would restyle the wing tip to have a less pointy point on the toe to also modernize this classic look for wearing without the kiltie.   I would say on the plus side of the kiltie, it covers the crease that started to show on the top of the shoe from where the shoe bent when walking.  I think the white color of the shoe showed the crease more than a darker color would.  Having said that all leather shoes will show a crease.

How comfortable were the shoes? The fit is very snug for me in where the toes meet the foot.  I have a wider foot so a wide width would have fit me better if offered.  I think the leather would give naturally over time to offer a better fit if broken in with regular wear over a month or two.  It started to give a bit to adjust to my foot and started to feel more comfortable as I wore it longer.

Were these shoes comfortable for walking? Other than wishing it had a wide width, it was very comfortable for walking and the shoe feels very good on the foot, it is both soft and supportive.  It has a very soft cushioned feel when walking.  The tread is very high but it felt very comfortable and cushioning when walking.

How did the shoes perform during the swing? The shoes felt solid in my stance and the tread gripped well for my swing.  I adapted quickly to wearing them and did not notice any changes in my swing when switching to the shoes.

How was the traction? I am a fair weather golfer so the conditions were dry and the traction was good overall.

Any additional comments? Overall very high quality feel to the shoe and I would recommend.  Personally I would just need a wide width to wear as my everyday golf shoe.

Would you recommend Duca del Cosma shoes to other golfers? Yes

Reader Review #4

Name: Amy Gonzalez

Duca del Cosma Shoe Tested: Women’s Navy Caldes

Previous Golf Shoes: Ecco, Adidas

What do you think about the style of the shoes? I like the style.  Very classy.  (I chose these over the white ones based on style.  Not a fan of the flap). I asked friends for their opinions on style.  Most were positive.  Negative comments were that they were too shiny.

How comfortable were the shoes? At first, the shoes seemed to be too high in the ankle so I wore high ankle socks.  After a couple of wears, this was no longer noticeable and the shoes were very comfortable.  I especially appreciated the room in the toe box.

Were these shoes comfortable for walking? The shoes were comfortable while walking.

How did the shoes perform during the swing? I did not notice any difference in performance during the swing.

How was the traction? Good.  Traction was comparable to other similar shoes.

Any additional comments? My feet got a little hot and sweaty.  It has been in the mid 80’s in Taos, NM, which is hot for this region.  I would love to see some more summer weight shoes.  Also, the shoes are squeaky.  The squeaking is getting less with more wear.

Would you recommend Duca del Cosma shoes to other golfers? Absolutely.  They are very comfortable and good looking.

The post Reader Reviews – Duca del Cosma Golf Shoes appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Check out the new Edison 2.0 wedges HERE

Reader Review #1

Name: Kyu Lee

Handicap: 7.9

Current Wedge: Epon Tour Spin

Edison Forged Wedge Loft & Shaft: 49 degree, KBS Tour 110 R

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on full shots? I was surprised on how the shots went directly to the target in a piercing trajectory. I was also able to manipulate the ball flight with ease with the Edison wedge.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on partial shots and chips? The chips and pitches were very precise. I felt very in control of the distance I wanted the ball to go. The wedge gave me a confidence with less than full swings I haven’t had before.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge feel?  The wedge felt soft but not mushy, the feel was addicting as I was hitting full shots to half shots. I really enjoyed the feel, I liked it better than my current gamer.

Additional notes:  The word that came to me to describe this wedge was Control, a sense of complete control over the shot I had/wanted to hit.

Will the Edison Forged Wedge be your new gamer?  Yes! I will be also looking to replace my 54 and 60 degree wedges with Edison.

Reader Review #2

Name: Daniel Kim

Handicap: 28

Current Wedge: Tour Edge Iron/Wood Bazooka GW

Edison Forged Wedge Loft & Shaft: 49 degree wedge, regular shaft

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on full shots? The club performed great on full shots. I noticed a definite increase in distance with full shots with this club. I am hitting this gap wedge just as far (and perhaps even a little farther) than my pitching wedge. Normally I hit my pitching wedge around 60 yards, but I am able to hit this Edison gap wedge around 70 yards with a full swing. I am also able to hit the ball relatively consistently with this club.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on partial shots and chips? The club performed fine with pitches and chips. I tend to use my putter to chip and the pitches came off the club about the same as my other wedges. (I think my technique has more to do with my pitches, rather than the club itself).

How did the Edison Forged Wedge feel? The club felt nice. It wasn’t too heavy or too light. The grip (Lamkin) was fine for my hands.

Additional notes: I found the club was easier to see where the face was hitting the ball. My current wedge is a super game improvement wedge where the club looks like a wood with a very wide base…it makes it difficult to see the angle of the face. The Eddison does not have this issue.  Does it matter that it is forged? No, with my ability it makes no difference. Was I able to have more backspin on the ball? No, I play with cheap balls that are rock solid and will never have any backspin. This wedge, though, does clearly seem to have more distance on the full shots (maybe the higher center of gravity on the club?). This club allows me to hit about 70 yards with a full stroke, rather than trying to do a half swing with a 9 iron.

Will the Edison Forged Wedge be your new gamer? Because of the increased distance off the club, this wedge has replaced my previous gap wedge and will be my go to club for the short 60-70 yard approach shots.

Reader Review #3

Name: Seth P.

Handicap: 6.1

Current Wedge: Callaway Apex 19 GW

Edison Forged Wedge Loft & Shaft: 49* w/Project X 6.0

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on full shots? 

I will report off two sets of “data” for full shots. The first will be anecdotal from the time I was able to use on course and second will be from an indoor trackman session where I tested my two more common shots: I will be playing with this club full and what I call ½ (probably closer to ¾ if I saw it on video) which is a ~100 yard shot on course. I left in some poor strikes to account for on course performance. Any significant outliers were discarded. The ball used for trackman test was current model year ProV1

-The weather in CNY has been poor this spring so I have had minimal time with the club on course however from the limited experience I have had the club performed very well on full shots. The ball launched at out of a nice window and carried the number I anticipated with plenty of perceived spin. I’d say in comparison to my current game it was similar, but this wasn’t much of a surprise seeing as I switched to the apex set GW to get away from the traditional blade wedge on full swings specifically. 

-The trackman data showed similar findings. Launch and spin were both ~29* and 9200 respectively with the Edison having slightly tighter deltas on both data sets. The Edison wedge carried about 5 yards further and again maintained a tighter delta. The down range dispersion circle for the Edison was also tighter.

When looking at the “100 yard” shot

-On course I found the Edison to hit my number more often but again with limited course time and very soggy conditions it was hard to say definitively.

-Trackman data, once again, showed similar comparisons between the two clubs. Launch and spin ~28* and 8000rpm with the Edison carrying a little more spin, launching a touch lower, and sightly tighter deltas. When looking at carry distance the Edison was ~93 yards with a total distance of 96 (delta +/-4) this was compared to the apex at 84 and 88 (delta +/- 6). 

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on partial shots and chips? I wasn’t able to get a sufficient amount of time on the course to adequately assess this at this time. I typically do not use this loft around the greens so the lack of time will not impact my assessment. 

How did the Edison Forged Wedge feel? The wedge had a very solid feel is my best assessment. The ball came off the face with solid quick feel but didn’t feel “jumpy”. I could identify mishits easily through feel but the ball flight wasn’t severely impacted unless the strike was extremely poor. Compared to my current wedge it felt more lively while not being jumpy. 

Will the Edison Forged Wedge be your new gamer? Yes, I will be replacing my current apex GW with the Edison 49* wedge.

Reader Review #4

Name: Matt B.

Handicap: 17.6

Current Wedge: TaylorMade MG3

Edison Forged Wedge Loft & Shaft: 55*, KBS 120 Stiff

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on full shots? One word immediately comes to mind – consistent. I was able to hit my number (105-108 yds) on most swings with the 55* Edison. My very first swing on course was 105 into wind on a downslope, caught it clean to leave about a 5′ uphill birdie putt. It’s easy to hit, extremely forgiving, and wants to launch quick and land steep. It stops on a dime for me with full shots – while I was expecting the flight to be a bit lower based on the tech of moving the COG up in the head, I think the shaft (KBS 120s) has more to do with it for me. It’s a higher spinning / launching shaft than I’d play in most of my wedges, and I think my normal gamers (Nippon wedge or KBS 610) would flight this quite a bit lower. Regardless, the wedge just flat out works on full shots, even out of trickier lies (buried a bit or fluffed up in a flier patch), which I think is where the higher COG really helps. If there’s one downside, I’d say these aren’t super workable wedges, although I’m not one to attempt sweeping draws or cuts into greens on approaches regardless. I’d much rather take consistent numbers / spin, easy turf interaction and forgiveness.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on partial shots and chips? Moving past the full shots into chips and pitches took a bit more tinkering to get down, but once I figured it out, it performed very well. On my first few pitches, I found the leading edge to bounce off the turf a bit more than I’m used to, but then I started to open the face a bit more to use the back half of the grind and began hitting my numbers and spin much more consistently. I found that I was flying these a bit further than expected on pitches at first, but then started to get dialed and using the grind to achieve the spin I wanted for any given shot. For a 55* wedge and the shots I like to hit (both full and half + 3/4 swings), the versatility was evident right away. I even attempted some fully open faced flops and it glided right under the ball as expected, stopping on a dime — not a shot I’d hit often with a 55*, but was impressive to see I could do it in a pinch. It takes some practice, but I’m now a believer in the Koehler sole with dual-bounce.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge feel? The feel was solid, not the softest wedge I’ve ever used but by no means harsh. There was the tiniest amount more of an audible click than my gamers (MG3) but nothing super noticeable, and it wasn’t as accentuated as I’d expect on off center hits. The weight and build were spot on.

Additional notes: Traditional wedge shape and extremely nice to look at address — very similar to my MG3 wedges. I appreciate how it’s a “forgiving” wedge but the design is still very much geared towards the “players” look.

Will the Edison Forged Wedge be your new gamer? While I’m not sure I’ll replace all of my MG3s with Edison, this will definitely get consistent rotation in my bag and will be my go-to for half sets, which I play often (GEOMs). The versatility of a 55* will work well as a jack of all trades wedge with 7-9 club set ups and I’m excited to continue testing and using the Edison. I will also likely try a couple of different wedge-specific shafts to see if I can achieve a lower flight (especially for windier conditions).

Reader Review #5

Name: Kevin Colcord

Handicap: 23.5

Current Wedge: Mizuno JPX-921 Hot Metal @ 49*

Edison Forged Wedge Loft & Shaft:  Edison @ 51* with KBS Tour 80 Regular Shaft

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on full shots?  In full shots the wedge performed well.  Distance was comparable to my existing Mizuno gap wedge. The swing weight feels a tad heavier than my Mizuno which I really liked.  In fact, I am relooking at the swing weight on all my irons.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge perform on partial shots and chips?  I removed my normal gap wedge and used the Edison wedge exclusively for practice and several rounds of golf.

I worked it extensively around a local short game area to test pitching and chipping.   The wedge worked well with many different lies and I was able to get the ball to stop very quickly – possibly more so than with my normal wedge.

My gap wedge is the club I use most often for chipping and I tested the Edison in this role as well.  It performed well – very similar to my existing wedge.

One claim I was unable to verify is lower ball trajectory.  I am a high trajectory wedge player on the 30 yards and farther shots and did not see a lower trajectory with the Edison.  This is primarily due to my not having the skill/expertise to take advantage of this option.

How did the Edison Forged Wedge feel? The Edison Forged Wedge has a very solid feel to it.  It looks better in person than in the pictures and is well put together.  I ordered mine with the KBS TGI 80 shaft as that is very similar to what I am using in my irons.

Additional notes: The Edison Forged Wedge arrived very quickly. I passed my specifications to Matt on March 10 and the Edison wedge arrived on March 19.  I received email notifications from Edison upon their receipt of the order and upon shipment.  It came vis USPS in a sturdy corrugated box with plenty of padding.  Included in the box was the Edison Forged Wedge, a small reusable padded head cover, the packing materials, and a preprinted note from Tom Koehler.

My overall impression is that this is a very high-quality club.  It is well put together and has a great feel to it. As I indicated above, the wedge looks better in person than in the pictures.

Will the Edison Forged Wedge be your new gamer? Yes, for now.  I am going to play the Edison for a couple of months and see how it goes.

The post Reader Reviews – Edison Forged Wedges appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: Daniel Scott

Handicap: 9.4

Current Lob Wedge: Cleveland RTX Zipcore 60 Degree Low Bounce

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 61 Degree KBS Tour Stiff

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on full shots?  I typically do not hit full shots from longer distances with a lob wedge due to consistency.  I feel more comfortable using a lower lofted wedge and adjusting my swing speed.  With that said, the Edison wedge seemed to have a pretty tight distance dispersion when I hit full shots with it. While the company claims the wedge typically launches lower than a normal tour wedge, I did not notice a difference.  However, the Edison did seem to carry about 10 yards or so further than my current wedge and had plenty of spin.  With more use and familiarity I can see myself using the wedge more for full shots.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  The Edison really shined on partial shots and pitches.  I seemed to get much more spin out of the Edison and saw balls move on the green in ways I have never seen before.  I knew the ball was going to check up so it allowed me to be more aggressive and have balls end up closer to the hole.  I had no problem opening up the face and hitting flop shots that would zip on the green.  As someone who never had the confidence to actually try one of those on the course, it was thrilling to be able to pull them off with great success.  It also performed great out of the bunker allowing for high, soft landing shots with plenty of spin.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge feel?  The wedge felt pretty similar to my current Cleveland.  It might be a little less harsh on mishits that are not dead center, but you can still feel where you made contact on the face.  Flushed shots feel fantastic and you know that there is going to be a ton of spin when the ball lands.

Additional notes: Overall the wedge feels and looks like a premium club.  It outperformed my current lob wedge in all aspects and did exactly what I asked of it.  I am seriously contemplating swapping out the rest of my wedges with matching Edisons.

Will the Edison Lob Wedge be your new gamer?  Yes!

Reader Review #2

Name: Jim Koch

Handicap: 7

Current Lob Wedge: Vokey SM7 60°

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 61° KBS Tour 120

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on full shots?  Spun noticeably more than gamer.  Had a more penetrating flight as opposed to ballooning.  Perhaps lost a few yards due to gained spin.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on chips and pitches? Consistency in spades!
Lower ball flight on pitches, and noticeably more spin than gamer checking and stopping quickly!
Opening up the clubface and swinging fast lead to unbelievable spin to stop quickly and at times spin back as though it were on a pulled string

How did the Edison Lob Wedge feel? It has a solid feel that is quite smooth and soft at the same time. Mishits didn’t affect the pleasant feel much but let you know where you missed it. On perfect strikes, it almost felt too soft if that’s possible! One of the most enjoyable wedges I’ve ever hit.

Additional notes: Gave me confidence quickly using the Edison wedge – both out of the rough and out of the bunkers especially.

Will the Edison Lob Wedge be your new gamer?  Yes

Reader Review #3

Name: Eric Davis

Handicap: 12

Current Lob Wedge: PXG Milled 0311

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 61 degrees, KBS Tour

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on full shots?  Great. Though I don’t hit full shots with my lob wedge all that often, a full swing felt very good. Trajectory was high and predictable and the ball came down and sat on the green right where it landed or spun back a little bit.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  Excellent. Around the greens is where I really enjoyed using the Edison lob wedge the most. Whether hitting a high lofted shot flop-type shot or a hooded low spinner, the ball always seemed to behave exactly as I envisioned. In this respect, it performed every bit as well as my gamer.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge feel? The feel is very good, although not quite as soft as my gamer. I found it to be responsive in that it was easy to tell how well I hit the ball based on the feeling in my hands.

Will the Edison Lob Wedge be your new gamer?  No, but it was a close call and I think it should be a consideration for way more golfers looking to buy new wedges. Testing this wedge was a good reminder not to judge a book by its cover and that just because something looks a little different than the norm or doesn’t have a recognizable name, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good product.

Reader Review #4

Name: Nick Billman     

Handicap: 12.8

Current Lob Wedge: Cleveland CBX 60 Degree

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 61 Degree KBS Tour Stiff

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on full shots?  Very well – this area was a strong point for the Edison wedge. I don’t hit a lot of full shots with my lob wedge but found the Edison inspired more confidence than my current lob wedge. My Rapsodo showed the Edison launch angle and distance was about equal to the CBX 60 degree, with a tighter horizontal dispersion for the Edison. Was also very solid from 50-70 yards, a distance I have traditionally struggled, although the deviation was higher here which I think was more due to my skill level than the club.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge perform on chips and pitches? Initially this was a struggle, and if this was a one-week review, it would have been negative. My main issue was blading or chunking chips, which I’d almost eliminated with the CBX. I kept working and my performance drastically improved into week 2. I didn’t need to deloft the club as much as I did with my CBX (see Additional Notes below) but found I was more comfortable hitting a higher pitch versus a lower running chip with the Edison 61 degree – I may feel different with a lower lofted club.

How did the Edison Lob Wedge feel? After I got over the blading issues the Edison allowed me to locate my misses without being overly punitive. As mentioned, the touch shots that I mostly play with a lob wedge took some adjustment, and the Edison was 1/4 inch longer which was oddly noticeable until I spent more time with the club. Overall the feel was very solid, and more firm than the CBX.

Additional notes: The sole of the CBX is significantly wider than the Edison with a (relatively) large area at the front edge. My go-to shot with the CBX is delofting the face and hitting a low shot that functions like a very short bump and run. It has been useful in tight lies where I don’t have a lot of green – I know there are other ways to achieve this result but it has guaranteed predictable contact and results on a shot where I may have previously bladed something trying to get the ball in the air. When I tried to deloft the Edison, I was digging and/or blading the ball over the green. After some practice I am feeling much more comfortable with the Edison. It seems the Edison is noticeably more forgiving than a standard blade wedge. It is marginally (for me at least) less forgiving but more versatile than the CBX or CBX2. Depending on your game, less versatility may be a benefit that forces you into higher-percentage shots. The Edison also looks better to my eye and while the CBX/CBX2s don’t offend me, they’re noticeably longer and have a much thicker look.

Will the Edison Lob Wedge be your new gamer?  It’s a solid maybe. I know where my current wedges will go and I don’t want to fix something that isn’t broke. I can’t see myself changing brands before the offseason. I had planned to get new CBX2s in a few months, but now I need to seriously consider Edison. The Edison wedges look better, go as far and launch about the same as the CBX 60 degree wedge. The Edison grooves were also great – my CBX/CBX2s are all about 2 years old so the grooves are worn but I don’t recall them ever stopping like the Edison does, and it was fantastic out of the sand. Edison is $40 per wedge more ($160 for the 4 wedges I play), and that’s a lot when the performance gains feel marginal. With all of that said, I love the look, the performance is there with some practice, and I’m a DTC golf addict (Sub70 irons and a LAB putter), so if my improvement continues Edison wedges could round out my non-conformist bag nicely.

UPDATE: I went ahead and started gaming the Edison, with increasingly positive results.

The post Reader Reviews – Edison Golf Lob Wedge appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: Charles Prokop

Handicap: 7.1

Current Pitching Wedge: Vokey SM4 48 – 06

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 48, KBS Tour

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on full shots?  Carry was equal to or slightly (a few yards) longer than my old Vokey on well struck shots. More forgiving than my Vokey. For example, when I hit a shot heavy (high on the face) the Edison carried farther than I believe my Vokey would have with a similar miss. The shot was still short of target but noticeably closer than I expected when I hit the shot. I was also able to control roll-out on our hard greens as well as I could reasonably expect and I was sometimes pleasantly surprised.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  Reliable and forgiving. Handled a variety of lies with no problem. I loved my old Vokey for the low bounce on the frequently tight lies I have here in the Texas Hill Country, but the Edison sole design handled the lies just as well with more margin for error. After some experience with the Edison I was getting predictable (and satisfying) roll out on chips hit onto hard, fast greens.  My half-swing pitch shots (around 70 yards for me) were more consistent in length and trajectory with the Edison than my old Vokey.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge feel?  Feel was solid but not hard. I play a firm ball (ProV1X) and shots did not feel hard or “clicky” with the exception of one bad mishit (on the toe) off a bare dirt lie. Overall, the feel gave me feedback on the quality of the shot but did not demand a perfect strike for a satisfying feel. If the feel of a club can give you confidence in using the club again, the Edison wedge did it.

Will the Edison Pitching Wedge be your new gamer?  Yes. I also need to replace a higher lofted wedge in my set and I will be replacing it with an Edison.

Reader Review #2

Name: Erik Antener

Handicap: 22

Current Pitching Wedge: Mizuno JPX Hot Metal

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 45, KBS Tour

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on full shots?  Very well! Got about ten more yards on average and a noticeably lower trajectory. Helped me from missing short and right. Despite lower trajectory, ball rarely took off when it landed and held the green better. When I did miss, it was still in front with a better lie.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  Chips weren’t that drastically different for me but pitches felt better and I was able to be more aggressive as ball grabbed better on the green.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge feel?  Really good. A little heavier in the head which translated to more control for me. Misses felt better too. Sounded great.

Additional Notes:  Tried it with my usual ball, the Snell Get Sum, and Bridgestone e12 Contact (after reading review on Plugged In).  Both were better with Edison Wedge but it really shined with the Bridgestone ball. In two rounds, GIR was twice my usual.

Will the Edison Pitching Wedge be your new gamer?  Yes, and I’m getting another.

Reader Review #3

Name: Pat Kaack

Handicap: 11

Current Pitching Wedge: Ping i20 PW

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 48, KBS Tour

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on full shots?  The Edison 48* gave a slightly lower trajectory with equal spin to my Ping i20 PW.  Forgiving, with consistent distance, but thin shots lost a little more distance than my i20.  Thin is my miss with irons off the tee.  This 48* is virtually identical in distance to my i20.  I caught one a little fat off the turf with minimal digging and a little distance loss, but seemed to be less than usual.  As for half shots and knockdowns, I struggled a little bit with little “flick” shots from about 90-100 yds out that I am used to with the i20.  I could move the ball up and down a bit and left to right as well.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  I don’t usually use a PW for chips around the green, but I actually pitched in for birdie from 36yds on my first Par 4 approach (after advancing up from under a tree after my tee shot, of course), which was nice.  I tried to use this club for most shots from 120 yds in.  Very easy to hit from the rough and fairway with nice bite.

The Edison 48* is slightly strong for me on greenside chips, as I generally use my 54* or 58* depending on what I’m facing and the pin location.  I don’t love PW’s for chips.  My chips were a little strong and rolled out a bit far.  It will take a little more practice to dial in.  Not a ton of spin (for me) on chips.  As stated earlier, I generally use a my 54* or 58* Glide 2.0’s and know how they react.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge feel?  Extremely solid.  Thin shots did feel a little harsher than the i20.  The feel across the face is solid, even on higher face strikes, which resulted in an unexpected non-ballooning flight with green holding spin.

Additional Notes:  As mentioned earlier this Edison 48* PW is as long, distance wise, as my i20 at 46*.  The Edison feels a bit heavier in the head and guides me to a slightly smoother transition.  The Plus 4 Grip seemed a bit large (there was a mix up on adding build up tape), and I didn’t love that on touch shots.  I did not take this into any bunkers, as I do not use PW’s in bunkers very often, unless I’m about 50-80 out.  My PW is generally a full – ¾ shot club.  Fun idea:  Could Edison take their 44* and turn it down to a 42*or even 41* and then take the remaining wedges all the way to a LW?  They’d have almost half of a player’s irons!

Looks:  The Edison PW is a clean, good-looking wedge with a thinner sole, which is nice for me.  The toe is a little more rounded than my i20 PW, and more “traditional” iron like, but still is inviting at address.  Very little glare.  As easy to hit as my current gamer overall.

Will the Edison Pitching Wedge be your new gamer?  I would need to get more time in and also change out the grip to my Ping NTS ribbed grip (2 full wraps and 3rd on the bottom).  My only regret is that I wish I had more testing time.  All in all, I’m not quite used to the Edison PW enough to execute a wholesale change, but it could be.  If it does become my gamer, then I’d have to buy more to round out the set!  

Reader Review #4

Name: BJ Johnson

Handicap: 20

Current Pitching Wedge: Wilson Staff Fat Shaft 44 degree

Edison Wedge Loft & Shaft: 48, KBS Tour

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on full shots?  Full swing resulted in 100-105 yards which was similar as my current  wedge.  With a change to graphite shaft, all weight in the head of the club which produced a smooth swing.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge perform on chips and pitches?  Shorter pitches around the green is the area I struggle with the most.  Various grass levels, types and slopes throughout a round of golf.  I used this club more than I would use my pitching wedge to get an idea what I could do with it.  I had better success than I would have had normally and actually several amazing shots I didn’t think I could pull off with my old wedge. I feel with some more time spent with this club, I can improve the results.

How did the Edison Pitching Wedge feel?  The smooth swing gives me a level of confidence in the club that will help me produce consistent shots.  I like the feel of the ball strike on the club face.

Will the Edison Pitching Wedge be your new gamer?  I plan to keep this club in the bag as a replacement.  It’s a clean looking club.   Not all shots were great but still getting used to the feel of more weight in the head of the club.  I was really surprise to be able to get a short pitch from short cut fairway grass some height that got to green were usually would need some fluffy grass to able to get that result.   My cons would be the price for this club and the degree stamped on bottom.  I knew they stamp the club with odd numbers so my 48 degree club has 47 stamped on it.

The post Reader Reviews – Edison Golf Pitching Wedge appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: Brent Smith

Handicap: +1.7

Current Hybrid:  TaylorMade SIM Max 19*

Previous Hybrid Shaft: KBS Tour Proto 95X

How does the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft feel: Very stable and smooth

Have you gained distance with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: Yes, 8 yards

Have you improved your accuracy with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: Yes, tighter dispersion both right to left and front to back.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: Yes, flatter with more direction and less curve.

Additional notes: Finally a hybrid shaft that allows me to play the hybrid more like a long iron and not like a fairway wood.  Very impressed with the shaft both on Trackman comparison and also on course performance.

Will the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft be your new gamer: Yes, definitely.

Reader Review #2

Name: Tim Buma

Handicap: 4.3

Current Hybrid: Titleist TS3 19*

Previous Hybrid Shaft: Graphite Design AD-DI 95X

How does the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft feel: Compared to my gamer this shaft feels a little more stout and tip stiff. Definitely can be as aggressive as you’d like with the Nippon and never seemed like you’d overpower the shaft.

Have you gained distance with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft:  I wouldn’t say I gained any distance with this shaft. I did see very consistent results.

Have you improved your accuracy with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: This shaft is very predictable and I’d say my accuracy has slightly increase with this shaft compared to my gamer.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: My ball flight with this shaft is noticeably lower and slightly more fade biased.

Additional notes: If anyone fights a hook and hits their hybrid too high this is definitely a shaft to try. I struggled with getting it elevated and to turn it over.

Will the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft be your new gamer: After going back and forth with my gamer, I’ve decided to keep my ADDI in my hybrid. I struggle with height and the ADDI hits that window I like to see. Just for me the Nippon was a little too low and I struggled to be able to work it both ways. But if someone needs to lower their height and hates seeing their hybrids draw/hook this is definitely a must try

Reader Review #3

Name: Colin O’Neil

Handicap: 7

Current Hybrid: TaylorMade M3, 19 degrees

Previous Hybrid Shaft: Aldila NV 2KXV Green 85X

How does the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft feel: Impact feels very solid. The sound it produces is a much duller “thwack” compared to the all graphite shaft. I don’t think I can feel the head throughout the swing quite as well compared to my Aldila shaft; however, there’s more of a sense of connection from the hands to the ball at impact with the Nippon. It’s a very satisfying feeling at impact. The Nippon shaft is around 14 grams heavier than my gamer so it took a bit of adjustment in terms of tempo and shaft loading. After several rounds and range sessions, I figured out how to swing it. I think the extra weight forces me to smooth out my tempo.

Have you gained distance with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: Yes, mainly due to lower spin and flatter flight, producing a bit more carry and roll-out.

Have you improved your accuracy with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: About the same. I did notice that if I got tired, the heavier Nippon shaft took more focus to swing well.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: Yes, the Nippon shaft definitely knocked off spin and flattened the ball flight. It launches slightly lower too. I found thin shots low on the face did not spin up as much with the Nippon as opposed to the Aldila, which helped maintain distance if it was a smaller miss, but made it less forgiving if I caught it very low on the face.

Additional notes: I play Nippon Modus Tour 125X ss1 in my irons so I am familiar with this shaft profile and a heavier weighted shaft.

Will the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft be your new gamer: Undecided. It took me a few rounds to get used to the weight and figure out how to load the shaft properly. Now that i can hit it fairly consistently, I see this as more of a weapon off the tee as opposed to a green stopper from off the deck. I may swap it out depending on the course. If I expect to hit a lot of tee shots with the hybrid or if it’s windy, I will go with the Nippon. If I expect to need to elevate the ball and have it stop quicker, I will go with the Aldila. I will continue to play with the NIppon and see if I improve with it even more. I am also flirting with the idea of putting it into my driving iron as I think it would complement that head very well.

Reader Review #4

Name: Bob Shirck

Handicap: 7.3

Current Hybrid: PNIG G30

Previous Hybrid Shaft: Alta S Flex 70

How does the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft feel: Very solid, stiff, and heavy. Changing from a  70 to 90 gram shaft was important in my case. It took a while on the driving range for me to adjust. Then it was so different from my irons (Ping i500 with XP95 shafts) that going back and forth was a big change.

Have you gained distance with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: No and yes. A very good strike made for good distance, but off-center hits not as good as with a lighter shaft.

Have you improved your accuracy with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: No.

Has your ball flight changed with the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft: On the driving range, yes. But for a round of golf with non-perfect lies, it was more difficult to get a desirable result. Perhaps not the club, but me with such differently weighted irons and driver.

Will the Nippon Modus Hybrid shaft be your new gamer: No, I prefer the G410 #2 hybrid with the Alta graphite shaft. The difference is shaft weight is important to me. When playing, I’m really conscious of the weight change. Shaft weight is more in line with my other clubs. My misses are better. Also, the #2 hybrid is used in place of a 3- or 5-wood. It’s used to go as far as I can, not stop on a green.

The post Reader Reviews – Nippon Modus Hybrid Shaft appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Real World Reviews

After spending over a month with their new Fujikura Ventus shafts on the course, our three test panelists are back with the final verdict.  Here’s what they found.

Reader Review #1

Name: John Grajek

Handicap: 6

Driver: Callaway Epic Sub Zero

Previous Shaft: Accra TZ5

New Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 70-X

How does the Ventus feel?  Good.  Despite having a swing speed around 115, I don’t like a shaft that feels too harsh.  However, at my swing speed it can’t be too soft otherwise I might find my ball in the wrong county.  This shaft doesn’t feel feel like a piece of rebar however it kept up even on a few swings when I went all out.

Have you gained distance on the course with Ventus?  Compared to my Accra it looks like I may have picked up a few yards however that wouldn’t be a reason for me to switch.

Has your accuracy improved with Ventus?  Yes, I’m not sure how much of this was due to the shaft or the feel and confidence it started to build.  Either way I don’t really care.

Do your real world results match what you saw in your fitting?  My fitting day was not my best. I’m happy to report that my results are better than my fitting. For me there has always been a little learning curve with a new driver shaft. Happy to report we are getting along nicely.

Additional notes:  I fully intend on putting a 80x Ventus black in my fairway wood when spring comes.

Will the Fujikura Ventus be your new gamer?  Yes

Reader Review #2

Name: Stan Feuerberg

Handicap: 11

Driver: 2018 TaylorMade M3

Previous Shaft: Fujikura XLR8 56R

New Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6-R

How does the Ventus feel?  The VENTUS has a superior feel to the stock XLR8 shaft.

Have you gained distance on the course with Ventus?  Absolutely, both the Trackman data and my three (3) range sessions and one 18-hole course experience confirmed 8 – 12 additional yards gained.

Has your accuracy improved with Ventus?  Absolutely, both the Trackman data and real world experiences confirmed a tighter dispersion.

Do your real world results match what you saw in your fitting?  Real world results were better than the simulator/Trackman sessions.  I was much more relaxed in my comfort zone on the range and on my home course (Pleasant Valley Golf Club, Chantilly, VA) and the results proved better than in the simulator.

Additional notes:  Both simulator/Trackman and range/course experience confirmed better results with the VENTUS shaft.  In the simulator, my SMASH FACTOR (average) increased from 1.45 to 1.48, while the maximum SMASH FACTOR increased from 1.46 to 1.49.  The VENTUS performed best for me when I switched heads to my 2018 Taylormade M3 12*, both on the range and on the course.  Trajectory was higher (as one might expect), and total distance increased.  In the simulator/Trackman, backspin decreased from 3,800 rpm to 2,531 rpm (huge reduction).  Truly impressive differences.  Until this experience, I would have never guessed that there could be that much of a difference between two shafts from the same manufacturer.

Will the Fujikura Ventus be your new gamer?  Definitely, until something else can be proven better.

The post Reader Reviews – Fujikura Ventus Part 2 appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Reader Review #1

Name: Terry Marshall

Handicap: 3

Current Putter: Odyssey EXO Indianapolis Slant Neck

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: ISO Slant Neck

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  The ISO slant neck has a high end premium look and feel to it. Loved the size and feel of the grip.  The weight of the head and the balance of the putter itself were, in my view, perfect!  It seemed very easy to initiate and maintain a very consistent stroke throughout the stroke itself.  The putter set square to the line without having to manipulate it, easy to square up to the intended line. Loved the all black putter!

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  Because the putter is so well balanced and easy to square up to the intended line, putts within 5 feet are almost automatic.  If outside factors are good, ie, (greens, decent putting stroke), it’s hard to miss!

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Putter performed well on putts 5 to 15 feet.  Even if you happen to miss the sweet spot, the weights on the heel and toe help to maintain a square face at impact. Front to back dispersion seems to be the same as it would be if the putt was hit perfectly.  Very forgiving both in direction and distance.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  Had no problem at all with longer putts.  I hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 putts in the 30 to 40 foot range.  Because of the putter being so well balanced, it was easy to judge distance and lag most putts within the “gimme” range. Isn’t that what we all are looking for when putting from that distance? Even made a few!

Additional Notes:  Initially, I found the putter to be a little firmer off the face than my gamer.  This can be attributed to the difference in inserts used by each putter.  However, after a few putts, I easy adjusted to the firmer feel.  The ball rolled great off the putter. I did not experience and skid or hopping when striking the ball.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  This putter is now going to be my gamer!  As hard as I tried, I really couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about this putter. Nice going Cleveland! Great Job!

Reader Review #2

Name: Danny Bonin

Handicap: 0

Current Putter: Scotty Cameron California Coronado

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Frontline Elevado

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  Felt much softer and solid than I expected. The front head weight was a bit strange feeling, the putter felt light to me, might have been the large grip. I’m more used to a smaller pistol grip. Had some issue with alignment at first with the larger white line. I also didn’t like the indents in the back wings, seems like they will fill with water in the rain.

Negative stuff over…it’s an extremely solid putter. I didn’t expect it as the putter initially appeared cheap with the rough cast look. Looks are deceiving. Loved the murdered theme of shaft/head/grip. Very solid feel and look. Playing for a long time with Scottys there’s a certain feel, especially with a softer ball. I’m playing a firmer Bridgestone right now and the feel was really nice and soft.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  I had to trust the feel at first. The light head was hard to release, so at first I missed everything right. Once I got used to the counter-balance and light feel, it was more solid. If you already play a counter balanced putter you’d adjust right to this.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  The solid feel made it easy to get green speeds down. Again, because of the light feel I did have some issues on left to right putts, just not wanting to release it. Very accurate. I know the weight and face mill are designed for distance control and line, I can’t say that I noticed any difference, but it was solid.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  These were a little better for me. No problem in releasing toe, getting used to speed was easy. Little trouble lining up the putter due to the large white line on top, I had a tendency to aim this right. Again, very solid and consistent feel. No issues with control.

Additional Notes:  I’m going to fill in the top white line with black, it’s a little wide for my eyes, I actually prefer a small line or dot. I’m also going to put on a smaller grip, something I’m more accustomed to, might get more of the head feel in my hands. I’ll see how these changes go.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  I’m going to seriously consider it after some time on the practice green and slight alternations. I would recommend others to try it out for themselves.

Reader Review #3

Name: Rob Franks

Handicap: 1.5

Current Putter: Yes Sally 12 with Evnroll Gravity Grip

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Elevado Single Bend

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  Putter feels SOFT! Center strikes are very very soft using a Callaway Chrome Soft. Strikes off the toe and heel are soft/firm IMO. Noticeable difference from center strikes. I really enjoyed the feel of the putter as I much prefer a soft feel over firm

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  I struggled a little with shorter putts compared to others. My gamer putter is massive and I think I just had a tougher time lining up the Cleveland putter vs my Yes.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range and long putts?  Mid range putts found the hole probably more often than my gamer when comparing on the putting green. Somehow/Someway, I think the weights in the front of the putter make it much easier to swing. My stroke felt more free flowing and the release of the putter head was easier. I think this helped me “go at” mid and long range putts with more confidence. Really enjoyed this putter from mid and long range. Much more than short range.

Additional Notes:  I’ve never used the 2135 alignment before but I have to say I feel it works! I set up over the ball like normal and purposely moved my eyes inside and outside the ball and unlike most other putters, the center line still looked like it was in the middle of the ball. I think this tech is a big win for guys who choose to set up with their eyes inside the ball. Black finish and black shaft look great. Quality is high and it seems like the finish will hold up for a good while.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  For now, no, the Frontline will not take the place of my gamer. I will definitely continue to test though because I love the idea of making more mid range putts. That could really help my game. Hopefully I can figure out the short range issues I was having.

Reader Review #4

Name: Nick B.

Handicap: 18.7

Current Putter: PING Karsten Anser

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Elevado

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  Well balanced, heavier in the grip than I thought it would be and had a smooth feeling on the takeaway, which is where I’ve struggled with my current blade putter.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  Consistent, I felt more confidence with the Frontline because even mishits had a chance.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Distance control was more noticeable here for me versus the directional forgiveness. I didn’t always take the right lines given this was my first outing with a mallet (or more likely that I’m not a great golfer), but even on mishits the distance was within a foot or so of a centered putt, and I probably at least doubled the amount of midrange putts I made in a round.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  This is the area I felt the Frontline really shined. While I didn’t have a ton of long putts over the course of the round and a half I played, I significantly reduced three putts. I occasionally struggle with distance control on long putts because I allow too much movement as I try to putt the ball further, but the distance control on mishits really minimized this issue.

Additional Notes:  I’ve had my Anser for 7 years and I’ve always been a pretty decent putter but would have days I’m on and days I’m off. The Cleveland Frontline seemed, in a small sample size, to reduce the “off” days. Some of this is likely due to the switch to a mallet, but distance does seem to be more consistent on mishits, and critically I step up to short puts within 5-6 feet not worried about torqueing the putter on the takeaway and then missing my line. Short mishits often go in, medium mishits either go in or are within the 3 foot comfort zone, and long misses are lagged to a realistic range. I did notice on the few short putts I missed  (4-7 feet) where I was expecting to make, I yanked the ball a bit and it went just left of the hole. My miss with my blade from that range was often a push right – I’m not sure what that means other than I need to practice more with the Frontline. The full round I played with the Frontline was ok but I did struggle with ball striking a bit and had two 8s due to some OB issues. I still shot a 94, when I was expecting high 90s or over 100 based on how my ball striking felt. Reducing my three putts really dropped my score in an otherwise mediocre round and I’m hopeful with more practice I can take bad putting days out of the equation and start breaking 90 with some frequency.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  Yes. Results have been promising in a short trial period with the Cleveland Frontline, and I feel confident performance will only improve as I become more comfortable with the putter.

Reader Review #5

Name: Richard Mindak

Handicap: 22.6

Current Putter: Odyssey O-Works Versa 2-Ball

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Frontline Elevado

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  The putter felt heavy at first and the grip was very comfortable.  The swing weight, once I got used to it, was very good.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  The swing was very comfortable, aiming line was good and I felt confident with the swing and follow-thru.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Good alignment and swing was comfortable.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  After practicing at a longer distance the putter felt good and the sound off the face was nice.  The insert and end weights kept the ball rolling smoothly and straight.

Additional Notes:  I like this putter as much as my two-ball even though the design is very different.  I like the ability to pick up the ball because of the design.  I also like the angle of the shaft which allows me to keep my hands closer to my body.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  I plan to give my current putter a time out and will start to use the “Elevado” when I play next week.

Reader Review #6

Name: David Martindale

Handicap: 8.3

Current Putter: 2 ball milled series

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Elevado

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  On center hits, it felt buttery soft. On off center you could tell you missed it. All in all it had great feel.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  Putts within 5 feet where very accurate. I really liked how wide the line is when lining up a putt, gave me confidence.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  This is where I struggled. As an amateur, i struggle to always hit the center which obviously has nothing to do with the putter. But normally I can keep them fairly close with my gamer. With the Cleveland I was going passed the hole more times than I’d like.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  So, so on long putts. I came up short here and there, but most of the time I could lag them in nice and tight and hole a few.

Additional Notes:  This is one of the best looking putters in this style, It feels like a quality putter.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  Unfortunately, no. There’s something about it I couldn’t figure out. The sweet spot is either super tiny, or im just that bad of a putter. I couldn’t get over the inconsistency on mid range putts. Thanks for the opportunity guys.

Reader Review #7

Name: Craig Goodwin

Handicap: 11

Current Putter: Cleveland Huntington Beach #1

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Frontline 4.0

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  The forged aluminum “Speed Optimized Face” lives up to it’s billing. A nice firm, responsive feel across the face. Center it and you’ll hear a nice high pitch click. Hit the edges of the face and the pitch dulls to more of a lower pitched click. There is good feedback through the hands letting you know where the ball was struck across the face.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  Short putts of 3-6 ft. were almost automatic. The stealth black putter head, contrasted with the single white alignment line made lining up the putt a breeze. You could really shorten your stroke to keep it on line and let the momentum of putter do it’s job.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Mid-range putts is where I started to notice the difference between the Frontline and my older Huntington Beach. I found my speed control and line was better. My miss’s were within tap in range most of the time and all I could think was the milling on the face insert and tungsten weights being forward really were making a difference compared to my gamer. Having to give the ball a stronger stroke,  I wasn’t noticing the ball skidding and going off line. What impressed me was the solid end over end roll towards the hole and the ball keeping it’s intended line.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  Ah the longer putts. Distance control and alignment have been my nemesis most of my golfing years. I would line up over a putt with dread and just hope I kept it within reasonable second putt distance. Personally I feel this is where the Frontline putter shined for me. With the longer stroke needed to get the putt to the hole I was finding the speed was consistent across the face. Very little loss of speed and face twisting on less than centered strikes. I was consistently ending up with short second putts due to speed and direction being much better than I have been used to.

Additional Notes:  At first glance I was immediately aware of the simple stealth black color and only distinguishable mark being the white sight line. The color I loved, the squarish sharp edges not so much.  As I began to work with the putter I saw the benefits of the more squarish look and actually started to appreciate and like it. With the lack of distracting markings and the squarer edges, I found the putter very easy to line up to the target line. Performance and feel……..very eye opening and easy to get used to. Kudos to Cleveland for thinking outside the box with their technology and delivering a very good putter. At this young stage of our relationship I’m as excited about a new club in the bag as I’ve ever been.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  This putter is definitely staying in the bag and it’s going to be difficult for something else to take it’s place.

Reader Review #8

Name: Carlton Durham

Handicap: 16.1

Current Putter: Odyssey O-Works 7

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: ISO Single Bend

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  Depending on type of ball I was playing dictated the feel of the club.  I was playing a mixture of Callaway Chrome Soft, Taylormade TP5, Snell Black & Red and Vice Pro.  Initially with the Vice ball seemed to be extremely “clicky” coming off the putter face.  Not sure if I liked it, but was totally different than what I have been used to.  When I changed balls, it sounded better and feel off the club was nice.  It put the ball where I wanted which I say had something to do with the weighting they changed.  Having a more straight path putting stroke, I’m somewhat consistent with my stroke.  Overall, it definitely helped me stay more consistent around the hole.  A couple of the courses I played aerated the greens the last week or so, but outside of the sand dunes on some spots, I thought it performed well.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  I was clearly more consistent on short putts with the Frontline than I have been in the past.  Played with several different groups I regularly play with and “gimmes” were conceded more and more only because I was knocking down anything close.  I tend to push a few with my other putters, but this seemed to correct that issue.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Mid-range putts were the only place I didn’t see that much of a overwhelming change.  It did help me with distance control, but making them did not change much.  I’ve always loved the softer faced putters for feel, but tend to leave things short when I do miss.  The Frontline helped those mid-range putts roll just a tad bit further, which made my short ones that much easier as I was knocking everything close in.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  Due to getting the putter only 10 days ago hampered my overall evaluation of the long lag putts.  With the courses I played having aerated the greens, there was only one course of the 5 I played that I was able to work on the long ones.  Between the practice greens and the course, I thought it performed well but not enough test time to truly say one way or the other.

Additional Notes:  The putter grip was on point.  I’ve already moved over to the slightly bigger grips, but I liked the feel and feedback.  The all black look (grip, shaft, putter head) is a win-win for me.  Style and looks gets my vote!!

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  I’ll say this, I no doubt want to keep playing this for a bit.  Not saying it’s going to be a gamer yet, but it’s clearly in the rotation.  Over the next two weeks as those greens start filling in and rolled, I am truly going to enjoy trying to see how this putter can hang.  I give a lot of credit to Cleveland for being so underrated in the putter field, and working hard to prove people wrong.  I’m not a putter snob, but just never really gave them a chance to be put in my bag.  The Frontline ISO has changed that.

Reader Review #9

Name: Dennis John

Handicap: 17.2

Current Putter: Odyssey O-Works R-Line CS

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Cero Single Bend

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel?  I love the Lamkin grip. My old putter had a Super Stroke mid-slim, and the fat pistol shape of the Lamkin grip feels amazing. The putter is soft enough, with a very nice click on contact. It’s much more firm than the insert in my Odyssey putter, and I like it.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts?  It took a while to get used to the difference bet ween my old, center shafted putter, and the single bend, but once I did, the putter performed very well on short putts.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts?  Mid-range putts are where this putter really shines. 6-15 foot putts are very easy to put a few inches away from, if not in, the hole. The distance control was excellent on mid range putts. as well as direction control. I also thought the alignment aids we very good, and appreciate the high contrast of the white on black lines.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts?  I didn’t really see a big improvement on long range putts, but that’s probably more about my skill level. The distance control seemed fine, and directional control seemed fine as well.

Additional Notes:  My one small nitpick with this putter is that the matte finish seemed to show a lot of marks. I had some grass schmaltz on the top side, and it was pretty distracting. I licked my finger and wiped it off, and there was a darker black spot from the moisture that was visible for almost an hour. Again, pretty distracting.

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  I’ve played 4 rounds, and am really enjoying the putter. It will be staying in my bag for the foreseeable future.

Reader Review #10

Name: Phil Boyle

Handicap: 9.3

Current Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX

Cleveland Frontline Model Tested: Frontline 4.0 Plumbers Neck

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter feel? Head is heavier than current putter, nicely balanced and very nice roll off the face.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on short putts? Once I was able to adjust to controlling length, putter rolled very true towards hole.

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on mid-range putts? Excellent

How did the Cleveland Frontline putter perform on long putts? Excellent

Will you be making the Cleveland Frontline your gamer?  Most definitely.  Outperformed current putter in game situations.  Putter helped me control distance and direction of putts better than my Odyssey.  As with any change to equipment, there is an adjustment period.  I used the putter for three 18 hole rounds and I saw a marked improvement in my putting.

The post Reader Reviews – Cleveland Frontline Putters appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

Can Ventus Deliver for Our Test Panel?

Three readers were recently chosen to be fit at Club Champion for a new Fujikura Ventus shaft.  They have all completed the fitting process, and, in part 1 of their Reader Review, they discuss what it was like to be fit at Club Champion and the in-bay results they got from Ventus.

Reader Review #1

Name: Christian Nieto

Club Champion Location & Fitter: Miami, Nelson Mesa

Current Driver & Shaft:  TaylorMade M5 w/Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black

Fujikura Ventus: Ventus Blue, 5-Regular

What did you learn in your fitting?  I learned that an individual’s swing can be evaluated via significant amounts of data points–a lot of data points. I saw firsthand that the technology behind TrackMan is truly amazing. I think it is great that Club Champion is able to use this technology to show folks like myself how they can improve their game by virtue of the right equipment. In going through the session I was able to ask questions and get answers that taught me how a club fitting is really valuable, even if I am not a professional golfer. And to be able to see the results immediately was really impressive. Before today I honestly had not thought much about the use of technology for picking the right equipment. I simply looked at technology for improving my swing and thought “hey, a better swing will result in improved results.” However, after today, I truly walked away with an appreciation for the club fitting process and am certain I will use Club Champion when I purchase my next set of clubs. The right club, fit properly, can significantly improve my game. That is huge considering I don’t have 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to pound balls and improve my swing. Thus, I can get better results simply by going through the fitting process at Club Champion. 

What worked well during the fitting?  First and foremost, I believe that Nelson was really good and extremely professional. He was very knowledgeable and could relate things in a way that I could understand them. In other words, some folks can get very technical when explaining things but Nelson was able to speak my language and that really helped the session go well.

Did you see better results with the Fujikura Ventus shaft?  Yes.  I gained 9 yards of carry distance by increasing my ball speed (+2 MPH), smash factor, launch angle (+1.6*), and reducing my spin (-160 RPM).

Reader Review #2

Name: Stan Feuerberg

Club Champion Location & Fitter: Fairfax, Virginia.  Brett Castleberry.  He is excellent, helpful, and patient.  Very professional in every respect.

Current Driver & Shaft:  2017 Taylormade M2 10.5 w/Fujikura XLR8 56R

Fujikura Ventus: Ventus Red 6-Regular

What did you learn?  The XLR8 shaft produced too much backspin.  We tried several of my other drivers, as well.  I brought along a 2013 Taylormade Stage 2 10.5 driver with stock Fujikura Rocketfuel 50R shaft, and a 2016 Bridgestone JGR 10.5 with aftermarket Project X 5.0 R.  Those drivers, as well, produced backspin rates that were in the range of 2,800 – 3,000 rpm.

I also learned that hitting in a simulator is not quite the same as hitting on my home courses’ (Pleasant Valley Golf Club and South Riding Golfers Club) driving ranges.  My only prior fitting session was last November.  That facility’s fitting center has a large garage door that is opened, so that the customer hits out to the range, a much different environment and, for me, a much different result.

What worked well?  There was no Ventus Red 6 in stock with a Taylormade 2017 M2 adapter, so we had to do some trial and error experimentation.  Brett attached his Ventus Red 6 to a number of different heads, including a Bridgestone Tour B JGR 10.5.  The one consistent result was that the Ventus Red 6 reduced backspin by 700 – 900 rpm, in some cases the backspin dropped below 2,000 rpm, a rather dramatic and unexpected result.  The Ventus Red 6 also tightened up the dispersion.

What didn’t?  I had some difficulty consistently hitting my baby draw in the simulator.  After leaving Club Champion, I decided that I suffered from “simulator anxiety.”  I kept trying to lift the ball to a higher trajectory than simply swinging my normal swing.  My confidence bubble was definitely deflated when I left.  The next evening I went to my range to practice and was able to recover my swing and my confidence.  At age 67 and having played since the age of 9 including some competitive amateur golf, I know my swing has slowed and that I am no longer able to hit the ball off the tee as far as I used to.  I’m hoping that some newer and better technology will regain some of what I have lost.

Did you see improved performance with the Ventus?  The Ventus 6R shaft definitely reduced backspin and tightened the dispersion.  So far, I have concluded that the Ventus 6R is superior to the shafts, both stock and aftermarket, that I noted above.  Previous to my two visits to Club Champion, I thought that the Project X Blue 5.0 aftermarket shaft in my 2016 Bridgestone JGR 10.5 driver was about as good as I could find at a price that was something less than a new club.

Reader Review #3

Name: John Grajek

Club Champion Location & Fitter: Willowbrook, IL.  Andrew Moores

Current Driver & Shaft: Epic Flash Sub Zero with Accra TZ5

Fujikura Ventus: Ventus Black, 70 gram, X flex tipped 1/2

How did your fitting go?  Got there a little early to stretch (I’m getting old) and hadn’t played in a little while.  Once my fitter introduced himself we went back to our fitting bay and I hit a few 8 irons to get loose.  Club Champion uses Trackman with a projector so you get instant feedback on your shots with ball flight, club, and ball data.  Andrew asked me a few questions about my game, my misses with the driver and what I was looking for out of the Ventus shaft fitting.

Once I was loose it was time to hit my current driver and establish a baseline.  I was missing left that day (normal miss) so we took a grouping of approximately 6 shots out of the 10 I hit originally.  Based on my swing speed approx. 110-115 and my ball speed 155-165 Andrew quickly ruled out the Ventus Blue as an option.  My next set of shots was with a std length Ventus 60 X flex.  The shaft felt good however I typically play a heavier 70 gram shaft.  The club felt unwieldy in my hands and it showed in the shot dispersion.  Unfortunately they did not have a 70 x in driver length in stock, however they did have a 70X in a 3 wood length.  With the heavier shaft,  I had far better feel of where the club head was throughout the swing.  Andrew and I then started talking about swing weight feel and at Club Champion they had heavier weights he swapped into my driver.  I went from the 1 gram stock weight to an 8 gram weight and the overall feel of the club was profound.  With the 3 wood length shaft in the correct flex and the weights I picked up about 8 yards on average and tightened my shot dispersion.

What did you learn?  My clubhead and ball speed for driver is right at tour average!  My accuracy is not.  I probably learned just as much about my swing during the fitting as I did about my equipment during the fitting

What worked well?  Partnering with Andrew to discuss options to tweak my current driver with shaft and weight swaps to get the driver dialed in.

What didn’t?  My swing……I was a bit disappointed in myself that I couldn’t get my swing dialed in during the fitting.  I struggle with a hook off the tee with a swing path that is a tad too far inside to out with a closed clubface.  When timing is right it’s a pretty solid draw.

Did you see improved performance with Ventus?  Yes.  More ball speed plus higher launch and spin led to increased carry distance (+32 yards) with tighter disperson.

The post Reader Reviews – Fujikura Ventus Part 1 appeared first on Plugged In Golf.