CLUB TESTER REVIEWS

At last we have some news to shout about. As you know last week we sent 3 trial lists away for a week to try the latest products from Callaway & PING. The feedback we received was 100% genuine and makes a very interesting read.

Matt Hull- Plays off a handicap of 6, is right handed and has been a member for around 8 years. Matt tested the latest Apex & Apex Pro irons from Callaway.

Apex Pro-I loved these irons! I'm slightly biased as I already have the previous version of the Apex Pro but these felt even better. At address they have a slightly narrower top line which I like and they just sat really snug to the ground. When I upgraded from my previous irons (Mizuno) I felt I gained an extra 5-10 yards so trying these irons didn't give me any extra distance but still provided a penetrating ball flight and felt comfortable being able to move them left or right. The irons aren't as forgiving as possibly the Apex set with off centre hits so maybe suited for the lower handicapped golfer.

One niggle I have with my current irons is the matt finish which after a few rounds scuffed quite quickly so was glad to see they have gone back to the polished chrome finish.

Apex 
Loooooooong!! When Guy gave me this iron to try he told me this club had added 10-15 yards on his game so was looking forward to trying for myself. I was trying these out at a driving range where there was a slight brow of a hill where the Apex Pro was landing. After a few hits of this iron the ball kept disappearing over the brow so at least 15 yards further than my current irons.

At address they are chunkier than the Apex pros and sit a little offset which will appeal too many but not me unfortunately.

As mentioned above, these irons added a lot of yards to my game but I also felt the trajectory was higher than the Apex Pro and I wasn't able to get the same workability from these irons but they felt more forgiving from off centre hits.

Summary- If you want extra yardage and forgiveness then go for the Apex whereas if you want a classic looking players iron then go for the Pro. Personally, I preferred the Apex Pro irons and would have no hesitation in swapping the previous version for the new but as I said, I already have the Apex Pro's in my bag. 

John Pickles - Plays off a handicap of 7, is right handed and has been a member here for about 11 years. John trialled the latest G driver from PING and enjoyed it that much he's already made his purchase!

Feels solid off the face and seems to fly a long time in the air. You feel confident and in control with a tight dispertion, even with off centre strikes, probably due to the low spin (LS) version that I tested. Consistent distance, and consistently 12 to 15 yards further (and straighter) on average than my current driver. Test drive this club with caution: you will want to buy it after only a few hits!

Kevin Reilly - Plays off a handicap of 12, is left handed and has been a member here for about 8 years 

Appearance 
o The head is a traditional shape head and matt black in colour on the top. I liked the electric blue sections on the underside of the head with the decals XR picked out in white and gold. 
o The head sets up easily with a centre marking which also forms part of the aerodynamic design for the club.

Playing the driver 
I played a full round with the driver and despite the wet fairways I was pleasantly surprised to see some good long drives. My ball flight shape tends to be rather flat (hence the increased loft I use) so at this time of year the run on the fairway is limited but despite that I was getting the ball out there and unusually was past my playing partners !!

The ball sounded good off the clubface and I was happy with the consistency of the drives. Overall compared with my Taylor Made SDLR driver it played better and longer and felt more forgiving with off centre strikes. Having tested the driver on the course I wanted to see if I could get more from the club by making further adjustments so I spent some time at a driving range. I left the set up at draw but added slightly more loft which gave me probably the best combination as the ball flight increased slightly which looked much better. On the range I used the XR16 and my own current SDLR driver to seek comparisons and the Callaway both felt better with increased distance.

Conclusion 
I liked this driver and I believe that the aerodynamic design does work. One thing I would recommend however it's imperative to get measured for any driver to gain the maximum from any new technology.

So there you have it. 100% honest feedback and very positive reviews on the latest products that PING & CALLAWAY have to offer. Not only is it positive from an amateur prospective but at the Pro Ranks as well. Danny Willet's win in Dubai and most recently Bubba Watson's win on the US tour last weekend. So no matter what level these brands have everything for every level of golfer!

Junior Coaching

We have new dates available for Junior coaching for this summer with a HUGE project where Dan will visit as many schools in the Fulford catchment area in a mission to grow the game of golf, making Fulford Golf Club the place for juniors to start the great game of golf.

HSBC Golf Roots is the Golf Foundation's national programme to enhance the lives of young people through playing golf.

Within that, the Junior Golf Passport is the national structured learning programme for children aged 6-12 years, endorsed by the PGA. The multi-layered programme progresses a complete novice golfer into a junior golfer ready for membership at a golf club.

The programme has 3 key levels: START, LEARN and PLAY. The START level is all about fun and an elementary introduction to golf. The LEARN level is a move towards technical instruction through games based learning, always with the emphasis on fun. The PLAY level teaches the child to apply their learning to the golf course, preparing them for potential club membership and competition. However, access to the golf course and playing golf on a course are important features of the Junior Golf Passport from the START in order to develop a real connection to golf.

Please register here if you wish to find out more for your child.