Archive for June, 2014
Kaymer Rides PING Karsten 1959 ANSER 2 to U.S. Open Title
- June 30, 2014, 1:01 am
- Matt
- In Golf Clubs, Putters
Naturally, to win the U.S. Open in commanding fashion as Martin Kaymer did at Pinehurst, all of the club in the bag need to be working nicely. There is no way to win the national championship easily over the best players in the world without getting contributions from the driver through the putter. However, it was that putter specifically that helped Kaymer stay on track all week long and put his second major title in the books.
Huge Par Saves Kept Him on Track
The lack of bogies that appeared on Kaymer’s card during the four rounds he played at Pinehurst were nothing short of amazing. In a field where only three players managed to break par for the whole week, Kaymer kept his cards mostly clean by holing out beautiful par putts whenever he did get in trouble. His success should highlight the importance of putting for the average amateur golfer. Even if you hit a couple poor shots on a given hole, all can be forgiven with one great roll on the green.
The Club That He Trusted
In steamrolling his way to the U.S. Open title, Kaymer used the PING Karsten 1959 ANSER 2 putter. It is a classic looking putter that stands in contrast to many of the other flat sticks that could be seen in use around Pinehurst #2. The 1959 ANSER 2 is a traditional design with heel and toe weighting to help golfers achieve a true roll and a great feel putt after putt. There are no tricks or gimmicks involved in this club – it is simply a well-designed, solidly built putter that allows the player to let his or her true ability shine through.
One of the great attributes of this style of putter is the wonderful visual that it gives the golfer at address. It is easy to align this putter properly behind the ball thanks to a thin top line and bright white alignment line. It is hard to imagine that any golfer would object to the appearance of this putter as it sits behind the ball.
Where Does Kaymer Go From Here?
With two majors under his belt, not to mention a huge putt in the Ryder Cup, Martin Kaymer is certainly full of confidence and has the game to back it up. With two more majors to be played this season, and another Ryder Cup, it won’t be a surprise if we see him back at the top of the board sometime very soon. He also secured the Player’s Championship this season, so the big stage is clearly not something that causes him to shy away.
Likely, the success the Kaymer experiences will be closely tied to how well he continues to roll the ball on the greens. His swing is impressive and seems to hold up under the most intense pressure. As long as he continues to hit great putts with the PING Karsten 1959 ANSER 2 putter, there is no reason to believe Kaymer won’t continue to contend for major championships for many years to come.
FootJoy Mens GreenJoys Golf Sandals
- June 23, 2014, 7:07 pm
- Matt
- In Golf Shoes
With summer fast approaching, the weather is warming up and more and more golfers are getting their clubs out of the garage and putting them back into use. If you are looking forward to a great summer of golfing under the sun, consider the FootJoy Men’s GreenJoys Golf Sandals as a great way to get the traction you need on the course while still having a more casual feel than traditional golf shoes. Depending on your style on the course, these sandals could be just the right item to complete your golf wardrobe.
Give it a Try
You might think that it wouldn’t be comfortable to play golf in sandals, but you need to try these for yourself before making that decision. Once your feet are strapped into these well-built sandals, you just might forget that you aren’t wearing traditional golf shoes. On the bottom of the soles are Softspikes just like you would find on any other FootJoy shoe so you can get a grip on the turf while making your swings. There is no reason you have to sacrifice performance on the course while wanting to be a little more comfortable and achieve a more relaxed look.
Tightened and held into place with a strap around the heel, you can put these sandals on in just seconds and be ready to hit the links. Beyond playing rounds of golf in these sandals, they are also great for practice sessions when you just want to get out quickly and hit a few balls. Leave these sandals in your car or in the office and you will always have a good option to get out onto the tee line and work on your swing for fifteen or twenty minutes. If that practice session turns into an impromptu round of golf, you will be ready for that as well.
Not For All Conditions
Of course, these sandals aren’t appropriate for all conditions or circumstances. If you are playing golf in rainy conditions, or on a course that has seen a lot of rain recently, then you probably want to opt for a more traditional shoe during that round. Also, if you are going to walk a couple of rounds of golf in the same day, a traditional golf shoe may be the smart choice to keep your feet protected from the elements. However, for the average round of golf on a dry and sunny day, these FootJoy sandals are a comfortable option.
Just because there are many traditions in the game of golf doesn’t mean that all of your clothing and accessories have to stick specifically to those traditional styles. Don’t be afraid to be yourself on the course, and use items that are a little less common. Give the FootJoy golf sandals a try for yourself and see if you just might have a new favorite piece of footwear to take you around the course.
Mizuno Men’s WindLite Sweater Vests
- June 16, 2014, 7:07 pm
- Matt
- In Apparel
You might make the mistake of thinking that, with summer approaching, you can put away your warm clothes for a few months when heading out to the golf course. While you shouldn’t need the rain gear or stocking cap for a while, that doesn’t mean that it will be all shirt sleeves and shorts for the foreseeable future. In fact, early summer mornings can be quite crisp and often require a little more to keep your comfortable while getting ready for your round of golf.
Sweater in the Summer?
The Mizuno Men’s WindLite Sweater Vest is a great item to have in your bag for summer rounds of golf because it offers flexibility to help you stay comfortable. If you get out to the course early in the day and the sun hasn’t yet warmed up the air, you can slide on this vest and stay warm for the first hour or two of the day. Since it is a vest, you shouldn’t overheat, and will still have freedom of movement in your arms and shoulders to make your swing. Once the weather warms up enough, you can remove the vest and store it easily in your bag until the next time it is called upon.
Since it is a lined garment, this vest is also a good choice when the wind comes up and makes the air feel cooler than it is. Even a warm summer day can take on a chill when the wind starts whipping and blows right through your golf shirt. The protection this vest offers is just enough to prevent you from getting cold while also not making you too hot to be comfortable on the course. A good sweater vest finds the right balance so you can worry about your golf game and not your clothes – and this Mizuno product is successful in that effort.
Pick Your Color
Offered in a variety of colors, you can pick up more than one if you like to be able to coordinate with your various golf shirts and pants. Golf is a game that is almost as much about style and dress as it is about the shots you hit, so use this vest to make sure your style game is up to the same level as your drives and putts.
While this item is very useful in the summer months for cool mornings and evenings, it is also ready to be put to use when the calendar turns back to winter. If you are a year-round golfer like so many others, you can use this vest over top of your long-sleeve turtle necks and other undergarments you use to stay warm on cold winter days.
Whether used in summer or winter, you will enjoy this garment because of the flexibility and comfort that it offers. It won’t take up much space in your bag, but can come in handy when you really need it.
TaylorMade Spider Blade Putters
- June 9, 2014, 7:07 pm
- Matt
- In Golf Clubs, Putters
The original TaylorMade Spider putters have been a popular model with pros and amateurs alike for several years. The mallet-head design feels stable through impact with the putt, and the face makes for an easy time to get the ball rolling quickly. In short, there is a lot to like about the original spider putters.
However, they are mallets, and some players just aren’t comfortable using a mallet putter. Whether it is the look or the feel of the putter that they just can’t get past, many golfers will never come to a point where they put a mallet into their bag. For that reason, TaylorMade has designed the Spider Blade, meant to give many of the same performance aspects of the original Spider to players who want to use a blade-style head.
A Variety of Materials
By using numerous different materials in the construction of the putter head, TaylorMade was able to remove weight from the center of the putter head and place it further out toward the toe and heel. The result is a feel that is more-reminiscent of a mallet putter despite still looking like a blade. This putter is steady through impact and allows for slight mishits without the ‘punishment’ that a normal blade putter might dole out. If you aren’t able to strike your putts perfectly in the center of the face each time, the Spider Blade is going to offer you some forgiveness that many other putters would not.
Not the Only Difference
Besides moving the weight around within the head of the Spider Blade, TaylorMade has also made a change to the length of the putter – they have made them longer. No, they are not long putters or belly putters (which are being banned soon enough) – rather, they are just longer shafts that are meant to be used just as a traditional putter would be. Offered in 35′ and 38′ lengths, these putters are designed with choking-down the shaft in mind. So, for example, if you normally prefer to use a 35′ putter, you would purchase the 38′ and hold the club a couple inches down the grip. This is meant to give you some amount of counter-balance during the stroke and make it easier to achieve the steady, rocking motion that so many golfers are striving for.
Whether or not you will enjoy that style of putting is for you to try out and decide for yourself. There are already a few players on the professional tours using this approach, so it is not like it is without merit. Rather, it is an individual feeling that you will have to try out and see what you think. If you find that you enjoy this style of putting and it gives you added confidence to roll good putts hole after hole, the TaylorMade Spider Blade putters might just be the right addition to your bag.
TaylorMade ATV Wedges
- June 2, 2014, 7:07 pm
- Matt
- In Wedges
Of all the equipment in a golf bag during a given round, the wedges might get the least attention paid to them. Unlike other clubs, it doesn’t much matter what kind of shaft you have in your wedges, and many golfers just pick whatever brand they have for the rest of their irons and just call it good. In reality, wedges are vital to scoring and should be given as much attention, if not more, as the rest of the clubs in the bag.
Flexibility is Key
The TaylorMade ATV wedges were designed with flexibility in mind, and that is a good thing when it comes to the wedge game. In fact, ATV stands for All Terrain Versatility, because you never know what you are going to run into on the course. When you are playing a creative shot from a tough spot around the course, you are usually doing it with a wedge in your hand. Having a club that doesn’t get in your way and allows you to be as creative as you can be is ideal for helping you maximize your scoring efforts.
Changing Bounce Angles
Most wedges are designed with a consistent bounce angle so you get the same degree of bounce no matter how you have the club face positioned behind the ball. That is not true of the ATV wedges. Depending on how you position the club head, you can work with different amounts of bounce to match the shot you are trying to play and the conditions of the course. Usually, firmer turf will require less bounce, while it is helpful to have more bounce when the course is soft. Instead of needing different wedges for different course conditions, the TaylorMade ATV wedges will allow you to adapt on the fly and make the club fit the needs of each shot as you come to it.
Still a Top-Quality Wedge
Just because it has some innovative design on its sole doesn’t mean this club is lacking in quality or feel. It is the same great wedge feel and look that you have come to expect from TaylorMade, and you will have no doubt that you are hitting a tour-quality wedge. With milled grooves across the face of the wedge, you should be able to generate just as much spin with this club as you do with other wedges – if not more. Of course, like any club, you should try it for yourself and see what the ATV might be able to do for your short game.
Offered in seven different lofts from 50* to 64*, the TaylorMade ATV wedges can be used to perfectly fill out your set and make sure you have a club to cover all of the yardages on the course – in addition to your chipping and pitching needs. Before you just buy the first wedge you come across on the rack, be sure to try out the ATV wedges and make up your own mind on how these innovative clubs can transform the short game.