Table of contents for June 2024 in Golf Monthly

Nelly Korda claimed her fifth-straight victory and second Major title after a three-under-par 69 in the final round of the Chevron Championship. Her victory at the Club at Carlton Woods ties the record for consecutive wins on the LPGA Tour, with Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) the only other players in history to match the remarkable feat. Korda recorded five birdies and two bogeys in her final round to finish on 13-under-par for the tournament, beating Sweden’s Maja Stark by two strokes. Lauren Coughlin and Brooke Henderson were a further shot behind on 10-under-par. Englishwomen Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and amateur Lottie Woad all registered top-25 finishes in the first Major of the season. Korda started well with four birdies in her first 10 holes, before the nerves…

Now with more than 40 years in the business, PowaKaddy has launched its refreshed and revitalised range of trolleys and cart bags for the 2024 season. Its compact-folding range includes the best-selling CT6 and the feature-packed CT8 GPS, the best-selling GPS electric trolley in the UK. The brand has rolled out an updated version of its GPS onto its entire GPS fleet for 2024, all compatible with its new, subscription-free app. This year, it has also released four new cart bags to complement its range of electric trolleys and its push trolley, the Micra. The four styles – Dri Tech, Premium Tech, DLX-Lite and X-Lite – are available in 16 different colour options, delivering a style and practical choice for every type of golfer. New for 2024, the cart bag…

Ryan Fox finally believes he deserves “to be mentioned in the same breath” as the other sporting icons in his family. Fox’s father, Grant, achieved legendary status in rugby-mad New Zealand as the fly-half who inspired the All Blacks to triumph at the inaugural World Cup in 1987. The 126 points he scored remains a tournament record. And Ryan’s grandfather, Merv Wallace, captained the New Zealand cricket team and also went on to coach them. He even has a stand named after him at the world-famous Eden Park Outer Oval. But after claiming the Seve Ballesteros award as the players’ player of the year at the end of 2022 – a season highlighted by his Alfred Dunhill Links success - Fox went on to win the DP World Tour’s showpiece…

Shot on location at Moortown Golf Club 1 Before going out to play, find a level part of the putting green and measure out a 10ft putt (roughly three standard putter lengths). I practise on a green stimping at ten, so I know that a 10in backswing and forward swing will give me a 10ft roll-out. If practising on slower or faster greens, you will need to adjust things, but this is a great drill to get a feel for the length of the stroke and to give a solid calibration for the speed on the day. Do this for at least six putts – three in both directions. 2 Move out to 30-35ft and double the backswing length to see how that equates. You’ll need to lengthen the stroke…

I’ve been a golfer who has intermittently played the TaylorMade TP5x over the past few years, so I was very interested to see how an already very impressive, tour-validated ball could be improved. My curiosity was further piqued when reading that the TaylorMade team was working towards creating a ball that produced more speed but somehow felt softer – two performance characteristics that are usually mutually exclusive. The finish on the standard TaylorMade 2024 TP5x is very clean, and the alignment aid on the side is subtle but useful. I had the opportunity to visit the TaylorMade ball plant in South Carolina last year and witnessed first-hand the attention to detail in the construction process, so the quality of the finish came as no surprise to me. In testing, I…

Looking to sit among the best compact mid-handicap irons, Ping’s new i530 arrives with fresh aesthetics and some new technology. It’s an iron that should suit a wide range of golfers, with the looks of the i530 absolutely spot on for this category of club. There’s enough real estate behind the ball to inspire confidence, but not so much that it looks like it should be in the game-improvement category, while the relatively minimal offset will appeal to the better player. This is a tough sector in which to please everyone on the looks front as it covers so many different types of player, but the i530 strikes just the right balance in our books. In terms of technology, everything seems to be geared towards ball speed and distance in…

Unlike any other hardware category, the putter market is unique – there are literally hundreds of possible combinations of models to choose from. New brands are entering this space at a quick rate and established brands are always adding to their current lines with new shapes, further crowding the amount of options available to us. This year, there hasn’t been one clear focus or shift from manufacturers, but alignment and forgiveness are often at the forefront when it comes to creating new flat-sticks. Innovations such as 3D printing, developments in A.I. and the first totally zero-torque putter have certainly got chins wagging at Golf Monthly HQ and have gained some serious traction on tour. While trends and styles change, one thing that is consistent is the importance of a custom…

South-west England runs down through Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset and westwards through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to Land’s End. While neither of these first two counties is renowned for its golf, there is still plenty to enjoy. There are some fine parkland offerings as well as characterful courses such as Cleeve Hill, Painswick and Tidworth Garrison. Wiltshire is also home to two lovely courses linked with excellent accommodation: The Manor House at Castle Combe and Bowood. Further south, Bournemouth makes for an excellent base with no fewer than five Top 200 courses in close proximity, each very different from the others. Ferndown is tree-lined and traditional while Parkstone and Broadstone (which also has elevation changes) are heathland. Remedy Oak is heavily wooded and refreshingly modern and Isle of Purbeck is……

From rugged moorland to snow-capped peaks and dense forest to pastoral river valleys, Scotland is home to a fabulous array of golf, both on the mainland and out on its islands. Its golfing hotspots include East Lothian, also known as Scotland’s Golf Coast, which boasts three Top 100 courses, five Next 100 courses, including the brilliant Fidra at Archerfield, and a host of slightly more modest but hugely fun golf you may not have heard of. Fife is packed with some of the biggest names in golf, such as the treasure chest of courses at St Andrews, the very best modern pay-and-plays at Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie Links and timeless classics such as Elie and Lundin. Over on the west coast, Ayrshire is home to a pair of current and recent…

Payntr’s rise to popularity in the golf shoe market has been nothing short of stratospheric. From just one model to its name a few years ago, the brand now boasts six for both men and women. To help consolidate this rise, Major Champion Jason Day has recently taken equity ownership in the brand, which is seeing a growth in popularity on tour and on the feet of amateur golfers across the world. This stylish X 005 F model is the brand’s premier spikeless performance shoe and is just dripping with clever technology and innovation. These combine to make it one of the most comfortable and effective performance shoes on the market right now. Propulsion plate One unique innovation on theX 005 F is the carbon-fibre propulsion plate, which allows golfers…

Duca del Cosma has never created its golf shoes quietly. Whether it’s a classic brogue style or a more modern trainer style, the brand crafts its shoes loudly and proudly to exacting specifications and standards. The Davanti represents one of the most modern-looking designs the brand has ever gone for, incorporating high-fashion trends and a lightweight construction into a casual, spikeless golf shoe. Smart sole design The new Airplay 15 outsole features three different types of nub to enhance traction, stability and overall control. The inner x-shaped nubs offer excellent levels of traction across multiple surfaces and conditions; the circular nubs at the rear provide even more control as you walk; and the hexagonal nubs towards the front of the outsole are there for enhanced stability as you unload through…

Practising flat putts on a mat at home is ideal when trying to eliminate variables and work on your stroke, but when you consider how nearly every putt you face has some degree of break to it, you could argue this isn’t overly realistic. One product that lets you rehearse breaking putts at home is the PuttOut AirBreak. It features a light, flexible and very strong base with eight points of adjustment, allowing you to quickly create an almost limitless number of breaking putts across its 8ft putting area. It achieves this via eight air pockets built into the frame. You then use the pumps and release valves to raise and lower the base of the mat, thus creating up to 7.5% of side slope (right to left and vice…

TaylorMade’s goal with the Kalea Premier range was to create the absolute best clubs for women across a broad spectrum of playing styles. It ran focus groups in four countries, asking over 15,000 female golfers of varying abilities what they wanted from their clubs, and even built an advisory panel made up of female PGA professionals. This was a strong message from the brand that female golfers should no longer have to accept a half-hearted approach to the design of their golf clubs. Since launching in 2022, the Kalea Premier iron remains a popular choice for female golfers. It provides the best of both worlds via the forgiveness of a game-improvement iron in a refined design that also promises a hint of shot-making creativity – something usually only associated with…

Premium. Precise. Powerful. That’s the tagline for the Shot Scope Pro ZR laser rangefinder and, based on our testing, it delivers unequivocally on these promises. Even when simply taking it out of the box for the first time, the quality of the device is obvious. It feels robust, well-made and a little heavy compared to some of the competition, but this allows you to keep it more stable when playing in the wind. Packed with features When it comes to features, the Pro ZR is simply jam-packed with them. A reported range of 1,500 yards is impressive, if somewhat of an overkill, and the view in the LCD display is crystal-clear. The rapid-fire detection provides yardages exceptionally quickly without that slight drag you get on some lasers, which means there’s…

Golfzon was founded in South Korea in 2000 and is one of the world leaders in golf simulator technology. One of its premium products is the Golfzon Wave. There are many launch monitors on the market in 2024, but the main difference between the Golfzon Wave and its competitors is that it very much puts its simulator capabilities first, while still providing exceptionally accurate launch monitor data. This makes for a fun, multi-purpose piece of equipment that golfers of all ages and abilities can enjoy. The Golfzon simulator offers over 200 courses when you subscribe to the premium membership. However, even the basic membership includes a number of high-profile courses like Bethpage Black (the next Ryder Cup course), St Andrews, Turnberry and many more. Putting accuracy This is one of…

Adidas’ flagship performance shoe is approaching its 20th anniversary, a show of stunning longevity. Its latest version, the Tour360 24, has benefited from a complete redesign from the inside out, introducing new technology into the familiar, well-loved silhouette. Despite the pleasingly familiar looks, a lot has changed in the quest to make the Tour360 24 the best yet. First, there’s a new ‘T-Shape’ suede microfibre heel – a three-piece construction combining a soft, anti-abrasive sandwiched textile that runs from the inside heel to the top of the collar. This softer-feeling material provides long-lasting comfort, assisted by the Lightstrike and Jet Boost midsole. Stability then comes from the Torsion Bridge, which sits across the midfoot and forefoot and is designed to improve stability as you load and unload power through your…

Brought to you by one of the industry leaders in ball- and club-tracking data, the Foresight GC3 launch monitor uses three precision cameras to offer you comprehensive data on both ball and club. Taking this data, you can then work on implementing the necessary steps to improve. Thanks to the advanced photometric technology inside, the GC3 remains accurate and reliable both on the range and in the home simulator environment. In terms of ball data, if offers insight on ball speed, total spin and carry yardage. On the club side you’ll discover what your clubhead speed is, what the all-important smash factor is and data about the path your club is taking as you swing – everything you need to understand where your game is currently at. Outdoors and indoors…

Fujikura has two main HQs – one in Japan and one in California. The brand came to America in 1999 to expand and, initially, to offer a direct resource to original equipment manufacturers and to make aftermarket shafts. It quickly became one of the most sought-after names in shafts and the success of the Ventus range on the global tours has been nothing short of phenomenal. Now, a new Ventus model, with what Fujikura is referring to as Velocore+, is here. Premium looks The Velocore+ technology features a re-engineered, multi-material bias core to improve the feel, which we found very noticeable. We also found this core enhanced our performance by facilitating additional ball speed and tightening our dispersion. Alongside the performance gains, the ice-blue colourway is one that certainly stands…

No incentive to work at it There has been much debate around the WHS. A lot of it at my local club, especially among my fellow low-handicappers, has been pretty negative. I am sure there are positives and negatives for both the old and new systems, but I am certain that WHS does not encourage the average golfer to work harder on their game as much as the old system did. Previously, if a player was going through a bad spell, they had to have a lesson or work on their game if they once again wished to be competitive. With the new system, their run of bad rounds can quickly increase their handicap to such an extent as to once again make them competitive without their game actually improving.…

STATS: 2024 MASTERS SPECIAL Rory McIlroy had the best four-round driving distance average as measured on the 5th and 15th holes 317.62 100% SAND SAVE RECORDS OF THOSE WHO MADE THE CUT MOST BIRDIES BY PAR OF HOLE 21 The total number of eagles recorded during the 2024 Masters 5 The number of eagles on par 4s – three on the 3rd, one each on 14 and 17 2 Both of Patrick Cantlay’s eagles came on par 4s (3rd and 17th) AGE OF THE OLDEST PLAYERS TO MAKE THE CUT 23 Different nationalities teed it up at Augusta with 46 of the 89 starters from America 12 Adam Hadwin found the most bunkers with a dozen visits to the sand over four days…

Why are people starting to make comparisons between Scheffler and Woods? First and foremost, golf fans like records and statistics and need something to be talking about. Scheffler’s Masters victory was part of an incredible run of results as the 27-year-old threatens to emerge as today’s most dominant player. Further weight to the comparison has come via statistical analysis from Data Golf, which has concluded that Scheffler’s phenomenal current run is better than Vijay Singh’s in 2004 and only behind the all-conquering Tiger Woods’ amazing run in 2000. Surely it’s a bit early for such talk, though? Maybe. Since Tiger was last World No.1 in May 2014, ten different players have occupied top spot – Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Brooks…

Portugal GF: €94-€169 Stats: par 72, 6,567 yards The Algarve’s original resort, which started life as a joint venture between Trusthouse Forte and Costain 62 years ago, remains one of the region’s leading golf destinations. You could use a lot of adjectives to describe the 16th on the Royal course, pictured here, but whether you go for iconic, memorable, beautiful or daunting, it is undoubtedly a par 3 once played, never forgotten. For those brave enough, it stretches to 245 yards off the tips and demands nerves of steel as you fire one away across two inlets in the red cliffs. If the wind is whipping in off the Atlantic, the right-hand bunker and waste area are very popular bail-out areas and most will usually be delighted to walk off…

To say that Rory McIlroy is a thoughtful superstar is a good place to start when describing one of Europe’s great modern players. I’ve been fortunate to cover his career at numerous events in the United States since 2010 and I’ve seen him hold doors open for security guards at Augusta National, accommodate requests from fans and media effortlessly and show over and over again that he’s one of the nicest guys on the tour. I remember at the 2015 WGC-Match Play in San Francisco, Rory watched a boxing fight in the media centre on the Friday night as he was unable to get to the event proper in time. During the fight, a radio broadcaster named Dennis Paulson face-timed his son and handed the phone to a comfortably seated…

When the first season of the Netflix Full Swing docuseries was announced, expectations were high. The Drive to Survive fly-on-the-wall documentary led to a massive boost in the popularity of Formula 1 and the golfing world wondered whether Full Swing might do something similar for our sport. But along with the hopes, there were concerns, too. How could golf, an ostensibly slow-moving, methodical sport, be portrayed as dramatic and exciting? Would a docuseries on golf just be a bit boring? It was anything but. Full Swing showed the raw emotions in top-level professional golf, the highs and lows, the challenges, the rivalries and the camaraderie. It was a hit. Figures released at the end of 2023 showed the series had 53 million viewing hours in the first half of the…

Shot on location at Infinitum Resort, Spain 1 To create a simple picture to understand, I’m going to focus on lead-arm position at the top of the backswing. We could have a flat lead arm or one-plane swing (above left), more like Matt Kuchar, or we could have a more upright lead arm or two-plane swing (above right), like Bubba Watson. If the lead arm is level with or below the shoulder plane, that would be a one-plane swing. The opposite is the lead arm getting above the shoulders on a more upright backswing plane. 2 So, how does this play out in the downswing? The one-plane, flat backswing will require a really good rotation of the lower body and chest in the downswing (below). The club is probably going…

1 STEP DRILL I do this drill with every club in the bag to really help with sequencing. I stand with both feet together and then, as the club gets back to parallel, I step into the shot with my left foot. This gets my lower body moving before my upper body and gives me all the right feelings to make sure the sequencing in my swing is just right. It’s kind of my pre-shot routine out on the course, too, and a really useful on-the-go drill that you can do before every shot to get your swing feeling good. I’d suggest people who want to try it start with just a 7-iron at the range, but it’s really a drill that can be used with any club in the…

There have never been more options when it comes to picking the right golf shoe for your game. This year, we’ve tested 14 models from a wide range of brands in an even wider range of styles to decipher which shoe should be your go-to for the 2024 season. Spiked It feels like spiked golf shoes are currently enjoying something of a renaissance. On tour, spikes still dominate at a roughly 80/20 split as it remains the best way to generate the most stability and traction in your swing. Under Armour has designed its newest spiked shoe – the Drive Pro – from the ground up with the help of Jordan Spieth and world-renowned biomechanist and coach Jean-Jacques Rivet. The brand has designed a new Swing Support System, which focuses…

Great Britain is made up of mainland England, Scotland and Wales, along with affiliated islands such as the Isle of Wight, Skye and Anglesey. It is home to almost every type of landscape and topography from the vertiginous mountains of the Western Highlands to the easy-walking lowlands of East Anglia, and from the rugged terrain of the Peak District and Cumbria to the rolling hills of Sussex. Within this tapestry, we have courses that range from 150 years old and more, to one that opens in London this very month, The Inspiration. With the exception of desert golf, we also have every possible style, from the very best traditional links through to parkland, downland, clifftop, moorland and very importantly, heathland. Some are really tough while others are welcoming and benign.…

Stretching across from the Welsh border in the west to the North Sea in the east, the Midlands is home to rural stunners such as Kington and Cavendish, suburban oases such as Sandwell Park and Little Aston and a particularly strong Next 100 links in the shape of Seacroft near Skegness. As you would expect, the greatest concentration of top-quality golf centres around two of the region’s most prominent cities, Birmingham and Nottingham. The former is home to a couple of very appealing resorts as well as some strong traditional members’ clubs, such as Blackwell, Sutton Coldfield and Edgbaston. One particularly interesting course that has recently undergone significant change is Whittington Heath. Sitting directly on the HS2 route, there are now five new holes designed by Jonathan Gaunt on the…

Wales offers a dozen entries in GM’s Top 200 of the UK and Ireland, an impressive statistic for a country with fewer courses than Yorkshire. One of the first clubs across the border is Rolls of Monmouth, where elevated woodland separates the two nines. The greens are large and there’s a distinctive closing hole and on-site accommodation. Heading west, the southern coastline has easy motorway links and is home to a terrific selection of golf. The Vale Resort has two strong and contrasting courses, the Lakes and Wales National, while Pennard is rightly known as ‘the links in the sky’. The well-appointed Machynys Club is home to a modern links/parkland hybrid from the Nicklaus stable that runs alongside marsh and estuary, and nearby is the excellent Ashburnham, which is an…

Drivers Callaway Ai Smoke Max Cobra Darkspeed X Mizuno ST-G Ping G430 Max 10k Ping G Le3 PXG 0311 Black Ops TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway woods Callaway Ai Smoke Max PXG Black Ops TaylorMade Qi10 Titleist TSR3 Hybrids/utilities Callaway Ai Smoke Max Fast women’s hybrid Cobra Darkspeed hybrid Ping G430 hybrid PXG 0311 X utility iron TaylorMade Qi10 Tour hybrid Titleist U505 utility iron Irons Ben Hogan PTX Tour Callaway Apex CB Cleveland Halo XL Full Face Cobra Darkspeed Mizuno Pro 245 Ping Blueprint S Ping i530 Srixon ZX4 Mk II Takomo 301 MB TaylorMade Kalea Premier TaylorMade P770 Titleist T350 Wilson Staff Model CB Wedges Cleveland CBX 4 Zipcore Mizuno T24 Ping S159 TaylorMade MG4 Titleist Vokey SM10 Putters Bettinardi Inovai 6.5 Cleveland HB Soft 2 Retreve Cobra King 3D…

G/Fore has become much more than just a disruptor brand in the golf shoe world over the last decade. The new Gallivan2r (pronounced GallinvanTour) combines the signature style and technology traits that G/Fore has become renowned for in one of the best-looking silhouettes we’ve seen in a long time. Marrying the classic looks of the brogue-style Gallivanter and the more athletic MG4+, the Gallinvan2r pays homage to everything great about G/Fore. Its unique sense of style, fashion-forward looks and attention to detail are all packaged together in this fresh, lightweight and comfortable design. Unique traction Technically the Gallivan2r is a spikeless golf shoe, but its unique G/Pod cleat system uses 13 strategically placed traction points that closely resemble soft spikes for unparalleled stability in a shoe of its kind. Added…

GolfBuddy is one of the leading innovators in the golf rangefinder industry. Based in Santa Fe Springs, California, with product development and course data management centres in Korea, GolfBuddy has an extensive range of products, including the very impressive Laser Lite 2 rangefinder. The Laser Lite 2 is packed with features that make it one of the most functional rangefinders on the market. Providing measurements in both yards and metres, it also has a handy ‘Easy Pin Finder’ mode. This will ensure the shortest distance is displayed with the ‘Pin’ graphic popping up in the viewfinder to show you it has been utilised. The rangefinder features a bright 6x magnification viewfinder, a vibration function and slope mode. The Laser Lite 2 comes with a sturdy carry case, which has transitioned…

California-based Cobra Golf has made some of the best drivers in the game over the past few years and also provided some of the best value for money. With tour staff players such as Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and Gary Woodland, its credentials as one of the premium club brands in golf are unquestionable. The Cobra Darkspeed X driver most certainly continues that trend. Featuring refined aerodynamic shaping, the Darkspeed X really is fast and we enjoyed exceptional speed and distance through its more streamlined design. Ultimate adjustability A movable back weight is accompanied by a second forward weight, which gives players a real chance to fine-tune their spin and launch preferences. Cobra’s adjustable loft sleeve provides further opportunities for dialling in both ball flight and starting line. The Darkspeed…

The M5 GPS DHC offers fast, accurate, high-performance GPS through an intuitive and clear 3.5in touchscreen display. It comes with 40,000 pre-loaded courses and offers accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, hazard placement information and drag-and-drop pin positioning. DHC technology automatically regulates speed going downhill. New features for 2024 include ​​a cable-free battery with auto-disconnect and pop-up charging port, ergonomic handle grips and sportier tyres.…

Scottie, congratulations on winning your second Masters title. Can you sum up how it feels? It’s hard to put into words how special this is. It was a long week, a grind of a week. The golf course was so challenging, and to be wearing the Green Jacket again and taking it home is extremely special. Did you ever allow yourself to enjoy the lead? No. Just like any human would, your mind starts to wander a little bit out there. I mean, we’re out there for four or five hours at a time. You’ve got to let your mind wander. I tried to soak in stuff around me. I looked up at the trees at times. I looked up at the fans occasionally to try to soak in some…

“I DON’T KNOW WHY THEY’D CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE’RE MAKING AND HOW MUCH MORE WE WANT TO MAKE. IT’S QUITE NAUSEATING”Max Homa says fans are rightly sick of the conflict in men’s golf “WE NEED A STAGE. WE NEED TO BE ON PRIME-TIME TV AND WE NEED TO SHOWCASE THE TALENT WE HAVE OUT HERE, WHICH IS A LOT”World No.1 Nelly Korda on how to grow the women’s game “I’M PLAYING THIS PGA TOUR EVENT AND I WILL PLAY THE PGA TOUR FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER”Rory McIlroy emphatically shut down reports he was set to join LIV Golf for $850m before the RBC Heritage “I’M JUST PINCHING MYSELF, HONESTLY. I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT I’M SEEING. THE GUY IS SPECIAL. HE’S A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPECIAL”Caddie…

Wilson first introduced us to its Infinite putter line in 2015. Each iteration has proven to be a winner in the ‘best value’ category for putters, with the newest line-up sticking to its tried and tested formula while introducing a more premium look and feel from the grip right down to the blade. A double-milled face pattern ensures consistent feel, roll and distance control regardless of the strike location, while the two-tone PVD anti-glare finish minimises any visual distraction over the ball. The new midsize Pistol Karakal flat-sided grip features Enhanced Spyne technology, multi-zone texturing and a no-taper shape to minimise hand and wrist rotation for a smoother, more balanced putting stroke. Each model in the new range features Activation Parallel Alignment Lines technology, designed to help you hit your…

All golf clubs are obviously unique in a one-of-a-kind way, but you’ll also find a lot of similarities in every clubhouse you set foot in: discussions about slow play; debates around the World Handicap System; and opinions flying back and forth around course conditioning, the best new golf clubs and the Rules. Refreshingly, you’ll also find the same types of character in every golf club you visit. Here, we introduce the ten you’re almost certain to find……

How do I chip off a bare lie? By GM Top 50 Coach Gary Munro When your ball is on a bare lie, where the grass is sparse and the ground less forgiving, you need a specialised approach. The toe-down shot is your secret weapon. As you address the ball, lift the handle of the club slightly. This encourages the toe to sit closer to the ball while keeping the heel elevated above the grass. Position yourself a touch closer to the ball than usual to enhance control and ensure the toe engages precisely with the turf. The key is to maintain a vertical shaft angle throughout your swing by keeping those ‘high hands’. Minimise wrist movement to preserve this angle. The toe of your club has less bounce. Let…

One thing almost every golfer has experienced is the feeling of watching a ball splash into water. When this happens, the Rules give us options as to how we can proceed to get back on dry land if so desired, and where to drop a ball if the original is lost in the water, says David Wilson, rules manager at The R&A. Bodies of water on the course are defined as penalty areas, and these are marked as either yellow or red using stakes or lines. If a player’s ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, the player may proceed using one of a number of options available. The player may play the ball as it lies in the penalty area or…

It’s been a few years since Golf Pride has made any waves in the putter grip world. Its last launch was the impressive Pro Only line, but the brand is back in 2024 with the Reverse Taper range. This aptly named trio of grips is designed with a slimmer upper half and wider lower section, helping anchor the top hand for stability and reduce tension in the lower hand for smooth acceleration through the stroke. The Reverse Taper design also prevents unwanted micro-levers slipping into your stroke, helping you to not flip the wrists at impact. My first impression of this grip was that it was of a good quality and comfortable to both hold and use. Much thought has obviously gone into not only the specific shape of the…

In association with TaylorMade’s new Qi10 range has something suitable for golfers of all skill levels. To put this to the test, we invited four of our readers to the beautiful West Hill Golf Club in Surrey to be custom fitted into a Qi10 driver by the brand’s fitting expert, Dan Morris. We wanted to see what gains could be achieved in comparison to their current drivers. After being fitted into a new Qi10 driver, our readers also had the chance to see how one of TaylorMade’s golf balls could further improve their game compared with their current ball of choice. PAUL NASH Handicap index: 12 Current driver: Callaway Rogue Fitted for: TaylorMade Qi10 Max, 9°, Diamana T+ shaft FITTER ANALYSIS Paul struggled with high spin and losing the ball…

Watch the full test on the Golf Monthly YouTube channel! Next up for the Retro Review treatment is arguably the most iconic wedge of all time, the Ping Eye2 copper beryllium sand wedge. It was first introduced in 1982 as part of the Ping Eye2 iron set, but little did Ping know, it would soon become one of its most successful creations as a standalone product. What was the tech? The Ping Eye2 wedge had quite a radical design. It was one of the first wedges to feature perimeter weighting and it also had a very thin hosel, which allowed Ping to distribute the spare mass elsewhere. Ping placed it high in the toe of the Eye2, arguably creating one of the first-ever ‘high-toe’ designs, moving CG and providing a…

South-east England boasts more courses of all kinds than any other region of Britain for the simple reason that it is the most densely populated. It may not be the most prolific region for links golf, but what it has is mostly of a very high calibre, especially the concentrated cluster of Open Championship venues around Sandwich and Deal – Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s. There’s also Hayling close to Portsmouth and quintessentially English Rye down in East Sussex. There are also clifftop options with glorious views at the likes of Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, Seaford Head in Sussex and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent. Moving inland, both North and South Downs get fairly close to 1,000ft in places and many courses on top…

Travel beyond the major conurbations of Lancashire and Yorkshire and the north of England generally becomes more sparsely populated and, arguably, more beautiful. There’s no shortage of fine and hugely enjoyable golf of all kinds in Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria in the west and throughout Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland in the east. The Lancashire and Merseyside coastlines are home to some of England’s greatest links, including the three Royal Open venues at Liverpool, Birkdale and Lytham & St Annes, ably supported by Hillside, West Lancs, Wallasey and several others from The Wirral up to Blackpool. In north-west Cumbria, Silloth is often lauded as our best-value Top 100 course, while some of the county’s inland courses enjoy views to die for. Down in Cheshire, the heathland course at Delamere Forest…

“Scheffler appears to have a reassuringly simple take on life, never mind golf” Well, that was The Masters ’24. Some bloke called Scottie Scheffler arrived at the old jousting field as a scaldingly hot favourite, his betting odds so low even JP McManus might have ignored him. I certainly did. After an adult lifetime largely spent studying The Masters as if aiming for a PhD on the history of garden centres, I know about these things, know favourites rarely live up to expectations, know Augusta National is a botoxed minefield of risk and reward, know also that nerves fray in the heat of a Sunday rumble. Turns out I know nothing. If AI ever produces the perfect model of a golfer destined to win a Green Jacket it will, indeed,…

Ben Hogan is now a direct-to-consumer brand that has made a welcome return to the golfing world after being brought out of retirement by Las Vegas-based Golf Brands Inc. One product that is certainly going to worry the major manufacturers with its stunning looks and impressive performance is the PTX Tour iron. Its traditional looks disguise what is actually quite a feature-packed head, with significant differences in construction between long-, mid- and short-irons. More specifically, from 4- to 8-iron the heads sport a four-piece design in which a hollow construction is filled with foam to improve feel and acoustics. The 9-iron and pitching wedge are then one-piece forgings designed to deliver the ultimate in shot-making performance and control. Luxurious looks The visuals of the PTX Tour iron are nothing short…

Skechers has been busy developing some of the best technologies for out-and-out comfort in golf shoes for a number of years now. The Go Golf Blade GF Slip-ins represent a culmination of all the best Skechers’ innovations of recent years combined into one modern and practical shoe design. Hands-free Incorporated into the Go Golf Blade GF is Skechers’ hands-free Slip-in technology, which allows you to simply slide into the shoe without having to bend down to adjust your foot into the heel. It’s the firm but cushioned heel area that enables you to do this, before tieing up the laces and heading out to play. The heel area also benefits from Skechers’ exclusive Heel Pillow, which holds the foot securely in place through the swing and when walking, while also…

Historically, when we’ve thought about TaylorMade Golf, our mind has gone straight to some of the best drivers and fairway woods in the game. But in more recent years you can most certainly add ‘premium balls’ to that list, and the new TaylorMade TP5x Pix is up at the top as one of the best. In terms of performance alone, there are genuine, tangible improvements in this ball compared to the previous model. TaylorMade’s ball engineers have facilitated an increase in speed throughout the bag while somehow providing a softer feel and maintaining its spin characteristics. Exceptionally stable in the wind and impressively durable, the TP5x Pix is a golf ball right out of the top drawer. Visual technology TaylorMade has invested heavily in the visual technology side of golf…

Ecco’s latest offering, the LT1, has arrived to once again set the standard for quality, comfort and performance in a modern spikeless golf shoe. The outsole provides a sporty look with a pop of colour and is highly durable and suitable for all types of ground conditions. At the heart of the LT1 lies the brand’s most recent advancement on the technology side – Ecco Lytr. Walking on clouds This new innovation combines Ecco’s renowned Fluidform technology with Ecco Lytr foam, a cutting-edge material engineered to deliver enhanced cushioning and rebound through the golf swing and while walking. It seamlessly integrates into the shoe’s sole and, when combined with the premium upper materials and flexible fit, creates a cloud-like sensation underfoot. With standard lacing and Boa options available for both…

It’s now been eight years since FootJoy introduced the first Pro/SL shoe to the market and the brand has sold millions of pairs across the world since. The franchise has truly resonated with tour players and amateurs alike and the new Pro/SLX Carbon arrives with a new look as well as a bold new take on the spikeless outsole. Style and substance The Pro/SLX Carbon has extra flashes of tech and colour to give it a fresh, modern and premium look. The brand-new outsole features a moulded 3D X-Wing in the centre made of carbon fibre. This is engaged by swing forces to redistribute energy to the perimeter of the shoe and provide grip where you most need it. There’s no doubt this is one of the most stable and…

Ogio’s Shadow stand bag has been designed with meticulous attention to detail. It offers a classic look, with some modern features and technology neatly disguised within. The premium synthetic material feels great to the touch while the full-length dividers make it easy to get clubs in and out. Storage is abundant with a total of nine good-sized pockets for everything from valuables to beverages. Comfort is also a strong feature with a padded strap, Fit Disk technology, and the perforated moulded hip pad combining to create an enjoyable carrying experience.…

Titleist has made some subtle yet very effective changes to the Vokey SM10 from its predecessor. First, the more centrally placed CG produces higher spin and lower launch, a very desirable combination for the discerning wedge player. Then, new technologies have been introduced to extend groove life, which will please the avid practiser. Finally, improved feel is an added benefit for golfers who are likely to already be impressed by the slick aesthetic and multitude of grind options. The three finishes all look great and offer something for every taste.…