2001 Driver Roundup

While this has been the year of the golf ball in the equipment industry, we have also seen the emergence of larger, deeper face drivers as a trend across all manufacturers. Technological advances in clubhead design and materials have pushed the size envelope to limits once thought to be impossible. Benefits gained from these advances include greater accuracy, improved forgiveness, and increased distance. The grandaddy of the mega oversize drivers is the Ping TiSI driver that now seems to be "normal sized" compared to the vast offerings available today. In this special report, we take a look at the incredible selection of drivers that will help you with your game off the tee. GM

Note: Since conformity to the USGA Rules of Golf is a hot topic, we have also indicated those drivers that conform (C) and those that do not conform (NC) according to USGA Rules of Golf Appendix II 5a. (6.23.01)


Adams Tight Lies ST

Size: 303cc
Construction: SP-700 forged titanium with heel weighted sole plate. C
Distinguishing Feature: Clubhead specifically designed to optimize performance with the True Temper BiMatrx shaft.
Suggested Retail Price: $400
More Info: www.adamsgolf.com

Callaway Big Bertha Hawk Eye VFT, VFT Pro Series

Size: 300cc
Construction: Cast titanium with injected molten metal internal weight port. C
Distinguishing Feature: Variable Face Thickness meaning thicker in the middle of the clubhead face and ultra thin around the edges. Pro Series incorporates low handicap design features such as neutral internal weighting, a slightly higher center of gravity and square face angles.
Suggested Retail Price: $499
More Info: www.callawaygolf.com

Callaway ERC II

Size: 330cc
Construction: Forged titanium with injected molten metal internal weight port. NC
Distinguishing Feature: Integrates Variable Face Thickness technology with five part clubhead design: a forged face, a hot-formed sole and crown, an internal weight chip and an internal suspended hosel.
Suggested Retail Price: $599
More Info: www.callawaygolf.com

(Courtesy of Cleveland Golf)
Cleveland Launcher

Size: 330cc
Construction: Two-piece design with titanium body and thin beta titanium face. C
Distinguishing Feature: Cleveland teamed with high performance shaft maker Fujikura Composites to develop stock shaft called the Launcher Gold.
Suggested Retail Price: $399
More Info: www.clevelandgolf.com

Cleveland QuadPro Titanium

Size: 260cc
Construction: 6-4 cast titanium body and forged beta titanium face integrated with copper and tungsten sole weighting. C
Distinguishing Feature: Thin, lightweight face in a traditionally shaped design.
Suggested Retail Price: $399
More Info: www.clevelandgolf.com

Cobra Gravity Back

Size: 240cc
Construction: Titanium body and face with heavier aluminum bronze alloy backweight. C
Distinguishing Feature: Visible, shiny backweight and smaller head.
Suggested Retail Price: $375
More Info: www.cobragolf.com

(Courtesy of Golfsmith)
Golfsmith Titanium CM Series

Size: 260cc, 310cc, 350cc, 400cc
Construction: The Ti 350 and Ti 400 models are made from a high-strength beta titanium alloy from Russia called OTA-22 which allows the creation of larger face drivers due to its lower modulus than other beta titaniums. The Ti260 and Ti 310 models feature computer milled faces and soles forged from 6AL-4V titanium. C
Distinguishing Feature: OEM quality component offering a complete range of size options depending on personal preference.
Suggested Price: $90 (Ti 350, Ti 400), $80 (Ti 260), $78(Ti 310) (heads only)
More Info: www.golfsmith.com

Hippo Giant

Size: 400cc
Construction: Forged from three different types of titanium and two-piece hosel design. C
Distinguishing Feature: Massive size.
Suggested Retail Price: $280
More Info: www.hippogolf-usa.com

(Courtesy of Dogleg Right Golf)
Dogleg Right Hog XTL, ATL

Size: 310cc
Construction: Two-piece forged beta titanium. C, NC
Distinguishing Feature: eXeeds The Limit; At The Limit; refers to USGA Coefficient of Resistance (COR) limit specified within the USGA Rules of Golf.
Suggested Retail Price: $600
More Info: www.doglegright.com

Kasco VS Tour RS

Size: 247cc
Construction:Body and face are both made from a high tech metal alloy called Super Hyten which is known for its extreme hardness. C
Distinguishing Feature: Redesign of the original VS Tour driver, this new model features same classic traditionally shaped clubhead.
Suggested Retail Price: $480
More Info: www.kascogolf.com

Liquidmetal HLS, Tour Series

Size: 260cc, 250 cc
Construction: Proprietary liquidmetal alloy. reportedly delivers 40% more energy to the ball than Steel and 25% more than Titanium. C
Distinguishing Feature: High Launch, Low Spin (HLS). Tour Series features stronger lofts and slightly smaller head design at 250cc.
Suggested Retail Price: $400
More Info: www.liquidmetalgolf.com

(Courtesy of McGlothlin Golf)
McGlothlin TD-270

Size: 270cc
Construction: Deep face made from 85-10-2-3 titanium with 90-6-4 titanium body. Face and sole are plated with special titanium alloy creating a dark black pearl finish. C
Distinguishing Feature: Glossy jet black crown with iridescent overspray that changes color from green to blue to purple. Standard shaft is Grafalloy ProLite 35 with several premium shaft options.
Suggested Retail Price:$325
More Info: www.mcglothlingolf.com

(Courtesy of Mizuno Golf)
Mizuno Pro 300S

Size: 300cc
Construction: Four-piece forged beta titanium. C
Distinguishing Feature: Super thin clubface on this high priced driver.
Suggested Retail Price: $900
More Info: www.mizuno.com/products/golf/

(Courtesy of Mizuno Golf)
Mizuno T-Zoid Forged

Size: 270cc
Construction: Beta titanium face, alpha beta titanium crown, and pure titanium body in a four-piece design.C
Distinguishing Feature: Heavy sole and lightweight crown lowers center of gravity.
Suggested Retail Price: $460
More Info: www.mizuno.com/products/golf/

Orlimar TriMetal hipTi

Size: 300cc, 315cc, 340cc
Construction: Titanium body with face made from hipTi; hip stands for Hot Isostatic Processing, a metal strengthening treatment borrowed from the aerospace industry that eliminates internal voids and porosity in titanium castings. C
Distinguishing Feature: Thin 2.29 millimeter face available in three progressive clubhead sizes and lofts; 300cc/8.5°, 315cc/9.5°, 340cc/10.5°
Suggested Retail Price: $399
More Info: www.orlimar.com

Ping TiSI

Size: 323cc
Construction: Full titanium design with thermoplastic hosel. C
Distinguishing Feature: Patented JX hosel allows 14 different configurations combining face offset with lie angle to affect ball flight.
Suggested Retail Price: $495
More Info: www.pinggolf.com

Ping i3

Size: 195cc
Construction: Full stainless steel design with thermoplastic hosel. C
Distinguishing Feature: Smaller size clubhead offers workability and nearly parallel top and sole increases clubhead strength allowing greater energy transfer.
Suggested Retail Price: $210 (s), $275 (g)
More Info: www.pinggolf.com

Porsche PD-902A

Size: 295cc
Construction: Body and face made from Engineered Matrix titanium (EM Ti), a high tensile strength titanium allowing creation of thinner walls while maintaining the clubhead's structural integrity. C
Distinguishing Feature: Club features a "windtunnel" sole designed to increase clubhead speed.
Suggested Retail Price: $550
More Info: www.porschedesigngolf.com

Precept Tour Premium 260LS

Size: 260cc
Construction: Forged alpha-beta titanium face and 6-4 titanium body. C
Distinguishing Feature: LS stands for Low Spin, the result of thin face and internal weight distribution.
Suggested Retail Price: $420
More Info: www.preceptgolf.com

Precept Tour Premium 310LS

Size: 310cc
Construction: Three-piece design with 6-4 titanium crown, alpha-beta titanium face, and 6-4 titanium sole and hosel. C
Distinguishing Feature: Features patented wrap around face technology for more pronounced spring-like effect.
Suggested Retail Price: $420
More Info: www.preceptgolf.com

PureSpin

Size: 260cc
Construction: Titanium body with diamond particle face and 18 gram titanium ribbon around back of driver to lower the club's center of gravity. C
Distinguishing Feature: Four-way camber sole designed to reduce ground contact.
Suggested Retail Price: $350
More Info: www.purespin.com

(Courtesy of Golfsmith)
Snake Eyes Fire Forged Pro C.O.R.

Size: 320cc
Construction: 6-4 titanium body with 10-2-3 beta titanium face. Also offered as non-conforming version with similar design features. C
Distinguishing Feature: Design incorporates a varying face thicknesses with each loft to provide the optimum amount of energy transfer at impact within each specified swing speed range.
Suggested Price: $110 (head only)
More Info: www.golfsmith.com

Taylor Made 300 Series

Size: 300cc, 320cc, 360cc
Construction: Rolled faceplate design with body made from high strength SP-700 titanium and a titanium alloy face. C
Distinguishing Feature: 320 Ti and 360 Ti feature "Power Band" crown alignment while 300 Ti maintains traditional shape at address.
Suggested Retail Price: $399
More Info: www.taylormadegolf.com

Titleist 975D

Size: 260cc
Construction: Cast titanium head with reinforcement where the face and crown connect. C
Distinguishing Feature: "Thru-bore" shaft and traditional length hosel.
Suggested Retail Price: $400
More Info: www.titleist.com

Titleist 975J

Size: 312cc
Construction: Cast titanium head with variable face design providing a thicker face wall in the central impact region for strength and feel and a thinner wall around the perimeter to increase the Coefficient of Restitution (COR). C
Distinguishing Feature: Same classic traditional pear-shaped appearance as the 975D with deeper face.
Suggested Retail Price: $540
More Info: www.titleist.com

Tour Edge Bazooka 320J

Size: 320cc
Construction: Beta titanium body and face. C
Distinguishing Feature: One of the lightest drivers on the market with lightweight clubhead and shaft.
Suggested Retail Price: $600
More Info: www.touredgegolf.com

Wilson Deep Red

Size: 305cc
Construction: Hyper titanium face design with 13 grams of weight located in a position low and away from the face for an extremely low and back center-of-gravity to create optimal launch angles. C
Distinguishing Feature: Incorporates Fat Shaft technology with a .480" tip Grafalloy ProLite Wilson Fat Shaft.
Suggested Retail Price: $399
More Info: www.wilsonsports.com/golf/

(Courtesy of Yonex Golf)
Yonex V-Mass 350

Size: 290cc
Construction: Titanium body and face with tungsten sole inserts. C
Distinguishing Feature: Sole inserts are positioned to create a "draw bias" effect.
Suggested Retail Price: $395
More Info: www.yonexgolf.com



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