Innehållsförteckning för June 2019 från Golf Monthly

TaylorMade has always been a brand that pushes the boundaries of innovation to the limits, especially when it comes to its driver technology, and the new M5 is no exception. It has managed to create a club that builds upon the excellent M3 driver and performs even better in a multitude of ways. Because of this, the M5 was one of the first products to secure a place on our Editor’s Choice list. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY “The groundbreaking face meant it was one of the first products we selected” On the new TaylorMade M5 driver, each clubhead is said to be made with a nonconforming clubface beyond legal COR limits. Every head is individually speed tested and then injected with a specific amount of tuning resin, via ports in the heel…

A very warm welcome to the second Golf Monthly Editor’s Choice supplement. Last year proved a success and, as such, we had to make it bigger and better for 2019, which is why we’ve selected a whopping 100 of golf’s best products this time around. The full list of those that have earned selection is over the page and throughout this supplement, you’ll learn about some of the most thoughtful innovations and game-changing ideas our game has ever seen. They aren’t necessarily the best-looking products or the ones that hit the ball the furthest (although performance certainly played a part). Instead, we were looking for brands that have thought outside the box in their creations and really moved the needle in their respective categories. Playing good golf isn’t all about…

Arguably one of the most cutting-edge distance measuring devices on the market, the Approach Z80 combines laser capability with 2D overhead hole views visible through the viewfinder. A built-in image stabilisation feature helps pick out the flag, and once detected the map will automatically zoom in to show its position on the green, as well as the distances to the front and back. Golfers can also enter their driving distance before play to see which hazards are in play for them. It’s a lot of money, but it’s certainly one of the most fun and useful golfing gadgets you can buy.…

Modern, golf-specific sunglasses can help you see the target more clearly, watch the ball in the sky, reduce glare and simply minimise the stress on your eyes. Oakley continues to lead the way with its latest golfing release, Mercenary. It is constructed from its durable, lightweight O Matter material. Adding to the comfort are Unobtainium nose pads and temples that grip to the skin. The Prizm and Prizm Dark Golf are the best lenses for the course, helping players see changes in grass texture and slope by improving the contrast between various shades of green. We found the Oakley Mercenary to be light and grip well to the face. The Prizm lens is impressive and there’s no question that it helps you to see what lies ahead more clearly in…

DRIVERS Callaway Epic Flash Cobra King F9 Speedback Honma TWorld747 460 Mizuno ST190G Ping G410 Plus TaylorMade M5 Titleist TS3 Wilson Staff D7 FAIRWAYS/HYBRIDS/ UTILITIES Callaway Apex hybrid Callaway Epic Flash fairway Cobra King F9 fairway Mizuno ST190 TS fairway Ping G410 Crossover Srixon Z U85 utility iron TaylorMade M6 fairway IRONS Callaway Apex 19 Callaway Big Bertha Cobra King F9 Speedback One Length Honma TWorld747 VX Honma TWorld747 P Mizuno JPX919 Tour Ping G410 Ping i500 PXG 0311 P Gen2 TaylorMade M5 TaylorMade P790 Titleist 718 AP3 Wilson Staff D7 BALLS Callaway Chrome Soft Callaway ERC Soft Mizuno RB Tour Srixon Z-Star TaylorMade TP5 Titleist Pro V1 WEDGES Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind 2 Cleveland CBX Titleist Vokey SM7 PUTTERS Evnroll ER5 Hatchback Evnroll TourStroke Trainer Odyssey Stroke Lab…

Welcome to the all-new Golf Monthly! This issue sports a host of new features and a fresh look. As the title enters its 108th year of publication, we’ve had the magazine equivalent of a swing makeover and a custom fitting for some fancy new golf clubs. We hope you like what you see. At the heart of everything we’ve done has been a desire to make Golf Monthly an even more practical, inspiring and entertaining read that helps you to get the most from your game each and every time you go out to play. Whether it’s a killer tip that fixes your slice, an idea for a new bit of golf gear that could make a big difference to an element of your game that you are struggling with,…

Should we do away with gimmes in match play golf? The recent incident between Sergio Garcia and Matt Kuchar at the WGC-Match Play has reignited the discussion around gimmes and whether they should be scrapped. Those who are keen to see them eliminated argue such incidents bring negative publicity to the game and take focus away from the quality of golf on show. Most people’s overriding memories of the 2015 Solheim Cup are of Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull’s non-gimme as opposed to the high standard of golf. If everyone had to hole out, controversy wouldn’t arise. However, gimmes are an important psychological tool. A player may very well decide to concede all three-feet-and-in putts on the front nine and insist on everything being holed on the back nine. This…

No Says Jeremy Ellwood Having played with hundreds of golfers of all abilities over the years, I now believe that most could achieve progress more quickly by changing the way they think rather than modifying their well-ingrained techniques. Technique is clearly important, but a major shift in outlook is surely within everyone’s grasp? We all know someone who allows the outcome of one bad shot to adversely affect several more, even if they had been playing well beforehand. One thing in golf is certain – what’s done cannot be undone. All you can ever do is influence what happens next, and a positive outcome is more likely if your mental state doesn’t lie somewhere on a scale from the morose “why does this always happen to me?” to out-and-out rage.…

The new Cobra MIM wedge is the first in golf to feature a fully Metal-Injection-Molded (MIM) 304 stainless steel head construction. This process allows for the most precise shape possible for improved feel and turf interaction in every loft. Unlike forged wedges, MIM manufacturing reduces the amount of post-process polishing. In the past, there was a heavy reliance on skilled machinists to grind consistent wedge shapes by hand. Each Cobra MIM wedge is created using a mixture of 304 stainless steel metal powder, which is then heated and injected into a mould. Using a sintering process, the metal is heated to a higher temperature than forging (1,340°C vs. 1,200°C), resulting in a more even grain structure than forged and cast wedges and the softest feel. Robotic precision The King MIM…

Illustration: Peter Strain “Who will be in the top ten in a decade and who will have fallen away?” I look closely at the world rankings each week, and during a recent glance I found myself wondering what the situation would be in ten years’ time. Who will still be there and who will have fallen away? Which young players have the best chance of forcing their way in? As I write this, the current World No.1 is Dustin Johnson. I can’t see him being inside the top ten in ten years’ time. By then, he’ll have so much money and I think he’ll be sitting on a boat fishing somewhere. He strikes me as one of those guys who reaches a certain point, says enough is enough and then…

For every Kurt Kitayama there are far more Paul Warings on tour. A few achieve great things from the off, like the young American who not only triumphed in just his third European Tour event in Mauritius but added a second title a mere eight starts later in Oman. Others have to wait years, maybe decades, to make their initial breakthrough. Names like Carl Mason and Roger Chapman spring to mind, and although Waring hadn’t quite remained winless for as long as that duo before finally claiming his maiden title in last year’s Nordea Masters, when the 2018 season kicked off he had been out there for ten years without managing to get one across the line. This despite a strong amateur pedigree and an impressive pro start in six…

There’s no hiding from the fact there are some fundamental costs all golfers must incur. You need clubs, some form of tuition and somewhere to play. All of this means it’s never going to be one of the cheapest pastimes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not affordable to the majority. It can be very expensive at the top end of the scale, but there’s no obligation to play with the newest, most technologically advanced equipment and join an exclusive members’ club. There are a raft of secondhand club providers and tee times can be purchased at short notice and at very reasonable rates all across the UK. There’s all sorts of tuition available, too, from great-value group sessions to free advice from a multitude of players and PGA pros on…

The unmentionable Unmentionable, Lucy Locket, J Arthur – it has many names, none of which truly capture the horror. No other shot will cause you to question your life choices quite so much as a full-blooded shank. Watching your ball disappear at right angles is golf’s way of telling you to consider taking up badminton instead. Backwards hit You’ve hit the fairway on a par 5 and have 240 yards left. A good strike might just get you home in two. Cue a committed swing and a physics-defying result. At least you’ve entertained your playing partners! Double hit Of all these shots, the double hit is the most like a trick shot. People would pay to watch you do this on demand and marvel at your clubhead control. Sadly, your…

1 This drill can work wonders for those who struggle with a slice. It encourages a more in-to-out path. Put a tee peg level with your laces on your back foot. Take your backswing as normal and on the way down try to hit the tee peg away in the direction shown. What you’re doing here is changing the journey of the club; making that plane shift and coming from the inside on the way down. After a few swings, and with those thoughts and feelings, hit some balls. Hopefully you’ll start to straighten out that shape. You may even start to groove a slight draw. 2 A slice can result from the trail shoulder moving out towards the ball. Professionals have a tendency for the trail shoulder to move…

1 Miguel has a really fluid set-up that starts with a waggle. There’s a complete lack of tension here. Miguel is looking down the line and staying nice and lithe, whereas many club golfers just look down at the ball and get more and more tense. 2 He has a wide, rhythmical takeaway and loads the club beautifully on-plane. When the grip is tighter, it tends to yank the club off-plane. Miguel has found the perfect position with the club pretty much parallel to the feet. 3 See how deeply he coils into his right side while maintaining right knee flex. This is an old-school movement where the hips rotate. His left heel comes off the ground, which is rare these days. His shoulders have turned more than 90°. Photography:…

Driver Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero, 9°, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 TX shaft. Irons Callaway Apex 19 Pro (4-iron), Callaway Apex MB (5-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Wedges Callaway Mack Daddy 4, 50°, 56° and 60°, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Fairway wood Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero, 13.5°, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 80 TX shaft. Hybrid Callaway Apex 19, 20°, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Blue 90 TX shaft. Putter Odyssey Toulon Design Madison Stroke Lab. Ball Callaway Chrome Soft X. Photography: Getty Images…

The recent addition of the market-leading Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x ball in high-optic yellow, and the subsequent take up on tour by the likes of Bubba Watson, has ignited the debate around the visual and performance benefits of yellow balls compared with the traditional white option. Historically, yellow alternatives were only available in lower-price-point, distance-orientated options and chosen when frost or snow was in the weather forecast. But now, many of the top ball brands offer yellow in their premium, tour-performance category. So, we decided to put them to the test at West Hill Golf Club and picked four of the latest models – the Titleist Pro V1, Callaway Chrome Soft, TaylorMade Project (a) and Srixon Z-Star. We tried them out on the course to see if we…

Honma TWorld747 P iron Strong lofts consequently provide above-average distance on a penetrating flight. Long blade length inspires confidence at address. Price £969 (six-piece set) Adidas Tour360 XT SL shoe Looks great, is very comfortable from the off and the level of grip seemed comparable to many cleated shoes. Price £139.95 Odyssey Toulon Design Atlanta putter The simple, premium look oozes class. A long sightline aids alignment and it offers lots of stability, as well as a firm, solid feel. Price £429…

As this year’s British Masters moves to the glorious links at Hillside, it is interesting to note this type of golf is very much in fashion at the highest level. Although the BMW PGA Championship returns to its traditional home of Wentworth in the untraditional month of September, links courses will host all other European Tour events in the UK and Ireland this year. The centrepiece of the golfing calendar on these shores is the three-week stretch in July that takes in the Irish Open, the Scottish Open and The Open. The latter has always been played over a links, but the other two have ventured inland over the years. This year’s venues are Lahinch, the Renaissance Club and the beautifully revamped Royal Portrush. In September, the Dunhill Links returns…

When did you start out? St George’s Hill in Surrey in 1988, where we were re-instating a nine-hole course abandoned during WWII. Donald Steel let me ‘have a go’ at re-creating the old 2nd green. We’d discovered the old greens and tees in the forest, so it was an exploration into uncharted territory. How many projects since then? I set up my own business in 1990, having designed my first course in 1989 (Chesfield Downs). Since then, I’ve designed over 40 courses and advised more than 250 clubs in over ten countries on four continents on remodelling and improvements. What are the main reasons for course remodelling in the UK? I’d say 70% is a desire to make improvements to be more competitive, i.e. more attractive than nearby courses. The…

Illustration: Peter Strain “I look forward to seeing how this NHS experiment pans out” Good news chums and chumettes, next time you don’t forget to pop into the doctor’s for some more memory pills, you may also ask him or her to lob you a prescription for some golf lessons. Yes, the good-old NHS has decided that golf is a life-affirming, health-enhancing, stress-reducing, fitness-improving pursuit and, on balance, better for you than a bottle of decent Chablis on a wet Friday afternoon. Also, it turns out, stumbling around a golf course greatly improves your grip pressure, which (who knew?) is a key indicator as to whether or not you’re going to live to see Boxing Day this year. Or, indeed, The Open in Norn Iron this July. So GPs are…

Puma has been at the cutting edge of golfing fashion for well over a decade now, and its shoes take inspiration from both street fashion and other sports. The Ignite NXT delivers a modern, sporty look for the course combined with superb levels of comfort and traction. We also noticed the stability on offer. These shoes are built from the ground up using Puma’s Pro-Form TPU outsole with an organically altered traction pattern, featuring over 100 strategically placed directional hexagon lugs for grip close to that of a cleated shoe. Soleshield is a new micro-thin TPU film, vacuum-formed around the full-length Ignite foam midsole to make cleaning off dirt and debris easier, so your pair will stay gleaming for longer. The midsole foam provides energy return, responsive comfort and a…

The Evnroll ER5 Hatchback delivers appealing looks, tremendous stability and great feel, but the most compelling feature is the consistency of strike across the face and the resulting distance control. Guerin Rife’s groundbreaking Sweet Face technology comprises a unique mill pattern engineered to deliver uniform performance across the entire hitting area of the putter face. This leads to consistent distances and a tighter dispersion. The ER5 Hatchback is a new winged mallet design with a hatched out centre section. CNC Milled from 303 stainless steel, the putter has an attractive flat black armour finish. It’s a stylish, classic looking mallet with a white alignment line and red and white graphics on the sole. DISTANCE CONTROL So how do the grooves work? Well, the precise milling progressively imparts more energy transfer…

Honma is a brand that has been making golf clubs for 60 years, and yet many golfers here in the UK are hearing about it for the first time this year thanks to the high-profile signing of Justin Rose. Founded in Japan, Honma prides itself on the unique manufacturing process of its clubs by master craftsmen, many of whom have been hand-making clubs for more than 30 years to extremely precise tolerances. It is this precision that provides the consistency of performance – from the initial fitting to the club you receive afterwards – to help you become a better player. This is helped by the modern technology, much of which is unique to the TWorld747 460 driver. CUTTING-EDGE DESIGN Honma’s first adjustable driver features a state-of-the-art system whereby the…

KBS shafts are the brainchild of shaft guru Kim Braly, who has been designing them for decades. Despite this, the CT Tour is the brand’s first putter shaft. It came about through feedback from a world top-five player who was using a standard shaft in his putter, noticed how it felt soft in the tip and wanted something a little more stable. The result is the CT Tour, which takes the reinforced section found at the bottom of traditional shafts and extends it all along the whole length. CLEVER DESIGN This stepless putter shaft comes in single- and double-bend offerings and has a parallel tip to assist performance. It’s available in both a steel and a matte black finish in a 120g Tour option, and has already been selected by…

All of the 100 products that have been selected can be found in our A-Z listing on the following page. You can read our extended opinions about these special products and the reasons why they have been selected on the dedicated Editor’s Choice section of the Golf Monthly website – www. golf-monthly.co.uk. It wasn’t possible for brands to influence consideration or buy entry into our Editor’s Choice list – all 100 of the products we have selected are here on merit alone. Once the list had been finalised, we offered brands the opportunity to celebrate the inclusion of their product(s) in Editor’s Choice and enhance their listing. In this supplement, enhanced listings are full or half-page entries. On our website, the products that have an enhanced listing feature a special…

Its nifty electric trolleys may steal the headlines, but Motocaddy also makes some excellent bags and one example is the new AquaFlex. The brand’s first stand bag has been designed to fit perfectly on an electric trolley, while also functioning for those golfers who prefer to carry. The versatile AquaFlex stand bag is 100 per cent waterproof, lightweight at 2.2kg and features a fully adjustable, quick-release carry strap and a swivel buckle with ‘Smart Fit’ technology, which allows the strap to automatically re-balance when carrying. This ensures the weight is always evenly balanced between both shoulders. FANCY FEATURES The ‘rear stand lock’ holds the legs in place when attached to a trolley and the bag is kept firmly in place by the brand’s Easilock bag-to-trolley connection system, which removes the…

The Peter Millar Surge Soft Shield Half-Zip delivers a great blend of style and performance. It is made from a fabric that blocks wind and repels water and has a soft, suede-like tactile feel that also stretches for comfort and mobility. Available in two colours, this is a trendy garment that will appeal to those who want to stand out. It’s comfortable, functional and above all, stylish – a great offering from the American brand you’ll see a lot of out on tour.…

Golfers looking for a little nostalgia might like to consider the Original Jones golf carry bags. These tremendous looking bags began life in 1971 and the look remains the same today. Yes, there are a couple of modern twists, like the use of a water-resistant nylon to keep the grips dry, but the iconic design is as it was 48 years ago. The retro single strap and unstructured body offer simplicity, while three pockets provide room for your accessories. There are five standard colours in the range and also two more minimal Players Series options. These bags aren’t cutting edge, but for winter golf or a summer’s evening, they’re ideal. They deliver a nice throwback to the era of persimmon woods and balata balls.…

Slow-play debate The R&A has to be commended for trying to address one of the eternal bugbears of the game of golf, slow play. The measures taken vary in their effectiveness, the three-minute search rule being the most obvious time saver as it’s quantifiable. Oddly, the out of bounds rule has to be adopted locally. However, the ‘flagstick in or out’ rule is the most controversial as it can lead to slower play, and this issue has been debated constantly by my playing companions since its introduction. Some want the flagstick in and some want it out, but, even then, individuals vary hole by hole, as is their right. An extreme example of slowing the pace of play is the situation where player one wants the flagstick out, player two…

Diksha Dagar Deaf pro golfer Dagar won her first Ladies European Tour title by one stroke at the Investec South African Women’s Open. It was her fourth professional start. Corey Conners Was a Monday qualifier for the Valero Texas Open and won the event (right). Conners also secured the final spot in The Masters. Jason Day The Australian withdrew at Bay Hill, missed the cut at the Valspar and failed to win a match during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Lucy Li Had to withdraw from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur due to injury.…

GENTLE ROCK The arm-lock putting method ensures that all the momentum for the stroke is created by rocking the shoulders. By removing smaller muscles from the action (in the hands and wrists), DeChambeau should be able to create a more reliable stroke. STRAIGHT STROKE DeChambeau has a very upright posture, with his hands almost directly above the middle of the putter at address. This means his stroke has very little curve to it. A straight-back-and-through motion should keep the face of the putter aiming at the target for much longer, increasing your chances of rolling the ball on the right line. ALIGNMENT DeChambeau’s unconventional putting technique also allows him to set his alignment incredibly effectively. His feet, hips and shoulders are all parallel to his clubface alignment at address, helping…

Photography: Getty Images 4 Many happy returns, Rory! Given how long the Northern Irishman has been around, it’s easy to forget how young McIlroy actually is. He’s only going to celebrate his 30th birthday on May 4. Cheers! 1 Titleist Cncpt irons fittings Titleist has announced the release of its new premium CP-01 and CP-02 irons, which will retail for £3,500. Customers will be able to schedule fittings from early May. 26 1986: Seve hits the top of the world The mercurial Spaniard became World No.1 for the first time ever on this date in 1986. He stayed there for 20 weeks before getting knocked off by Greg Norman. The pair would swap the honour back and forth several times over the next four years. 9 British Masters Tommy Fleetwood…

Illustration: Peter Strain “Richard McEvoy told me to go to Q-School. It wasn’t on my radar” Hello everyone! I’m thrilled to be writing this column for Golf Monthly and I’m really looking forward to sharing my thoughts on all things golf with you over the coming months and discussing my life on tour. Golf has been a huge part of my life since I was a little boy and for this column I want to go back to the very beginning… My dad was always a keen golfer and we used to live near to a golf club called Belfairs in Essex. He was a decent player, so I was always at the golf club with him. I’ve got pictures of me as a two-year-old in nappies swinging golf clubs,…

Four other 30-somethings won for the first time on last season’s European Tour after many years of trying… 1 Wade Ormsby November – UBS Hong Kong Open The Aussie’s first ever European Tour event was the Hong Kong Open in 2003. After 264 events and several visits to Q-School, he finally triumphed in the same event in November 2017, shooting a final-round 68 to hold a quartet of challengers at bay by one. 2 Chris Paisley January – BMW SA Open The Northumberland man enjoyed early success on the Alps Tour after turning pro in 2009, but had to wait eight years for his maiden European Tour success. He pipped Branden Grace by three strokes to win at Glendower GC thanks to a bogey-free final round of 66. 3 Mikko…

If golf is a game of misses, then golf on the PGA Tour is a game of losses. Winning on golf’s richest stage is rare – and the majority of its members know this all too well. Those not named Tiger Woods learned to cope with logging countless hours of work, only to fall short of another PGA Tour player having the week of his life. Matt Kuchar was reminded of this during the press conference immediately after his victory at the 2012 Players Championship. In the lead-up to TPC Sawgrass, Kuchar had earned four top-tens and two other top-25s that season. A reporter attempted to ask how frustrating that was, but was interrupted by the quick-witted Kuchar. Reporter: “Over the last couple of years, you’ve played so consistently but…

1 Hit more club than usual for the yardage. Grip down, narrow your stance, move the ball back a little and align yourself a bit more to the left. Make a three-quarter backswing. 2 Swing smoothly to keep spin down, and make sure your weight is slightly ahead of the ball at impact. This will take loft off the club and help to keep the launch angle down. 3 Curtail your follow-through. The key to hitting a low-flighted shot is reducing your dynamic loft. You can do this by keeping your through-swing a little shorter than usual. Speed is key... More club speed through impact creates more backspin, which drives the flight. That’s why it’s crucial to take more club and swing smoothly. Shot on location at Lumine…

WHAT’S IN THE BAG? Driver Titleist TS3 11.5° Fairway woods Titleist TS2 16.5° and 21° Irons Titleist 718 CB (4-9) Wedges Titleist Vokey SM7 46°, 52°, 56° and 60° Putter Odyssey Works Versa #1W Golf Ball Titleist Pro V1x 2019 Photography: Kevin Murray, Getty Images 1 Get the basics right I see a lot of amateurs who don’t get taught from an early stage and get led astray by different things, so the first thing I’d say is get a lesson from your local PGA pro who can help you get the basics right, i.e. set-up, posture and so on. 2 Warming up A lot of guys turn up on Saturday or Sunday morning, get their clubs out, put their shoes on, head straight to the 1st tee and expect…

“It might look understated, but it has the firepower to compete with the very best”Joel Tadman, GM technical editor Verdict The fact the then World No.1 Justin Rose made the switch suggested there was something in the Honma TWorld747 460 driver, and now we have experienced it ourselves. Classy, understated looks are joined by a hot, explosive feel at impact that translates into impressive carry distances. Testing against our favourite Ping G410 Plus driver, the TWorld747 matched it in every department, with much more tasteful set-up visuals and arguably a slightly more pleasing sound, too. We found the ‘low spin’ set-up to actually be too low, so by moving the heavier sole weight back we achieved more appropriate spin numbers while also increasing the forgiveness. It then comes down to…

Verdict Ideal for golfers who want fast distances to specific points, the Pro XE ticks all the requisite boxes. Taking into account new factors that influence the distance the ball will travel should give you a greater chance of hitting your iron shots closer. However, these features aren’t legal for competition use, so if you play a lot of medals and Stablefords they may often go unused. That said, they’re easy to disable and you can still benefit from how quickly the distance is displayed and the excellent clarity through the viewfinder. Factor in the impressive range and waterproof protection and you’re getting a lot of tech for your money. The magnetic ‘Bite’ feature won’t stick to most trolley frames but in a buggy it provides a faff-free solution. Those…

On another level TaylorMade has unveiled its new double-decker tour truck. It reportedly cost $1.6m to build and was inspired by Formula 1. It weighs 22 tonnes, is 42ft in length and carries a whopping 1,200 golf balls and over 700 clubheads. Every dog has its day Ping has deployed a new putter out on tour called the Bruzer. This high-MOI prototype PLD mallet is named after CEO John K Solheim’s dog. Tour-only wands TaylorMade has created a bunch of custom putters for some top tour pros, including this one for Brooks Koepka, although he carried on using his tour-only Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport at the WGC-Match Play.…

Does it matter what golf ball you play? Should amateurs get fitted and does it make a difference at all? Dave Stearman, Twitter In short, yes to all of the above. It matters because it’s the only piece of equipment you use on every shot, and if you want to be more consistent, it starts with the ball. I’ve seen big variances in performance from balls across different price points. A fitting will determine the best ball for your game and budget. Once you know your perfect match, invest in it and you’ll benefit in the long term. I use Mizuno JPX850 Forged irons, but I’ll often practise with Mizuno TP9 blades. I seem to hit them better, but I can’t bring myself to put them in play. Would the…

Golf game failing? There are several things to try. Maybe you need an equipment upgrade or custom fitting? Lessons to iron out flaws in your technique? A fitness analysis to see if stamina, strength and flexibility might be costing you shots? Or all three at once! That’s exactly what Golf Monthly editor, Mike Harris, decided to do via our ‘Get Fast, Go Low’ project with COBRA Golf. COBRA Golf’s new range has been hitting the headlines, with the eye-catching King F9 SPEEDBACK driver their first to combine an aerodynamic shape with a low centre of gravity to optimise club and ball speed for maximum distance at all ability levels, thanks to high levels of adjustability. The King F9 SPEEDBACK fairways and hybrids mirror that speed-enhancing performance, while adding in COBRA’s…

Titleist 718 AP1 Irons LUKE OVERALL Halstead, Essex Handicap: 16 Why did you decide to buy the product? My handicap was coming down and I’d had my previous clubs for many years so I decided to invest in a new set. I didn’t know where to start with so many on the market, so I visited my local American Golf to get some advice on suitable clubs and have a fitting to see how a few new models compared. How has the product been performing? The 718 AP1s have added distance and consistency to my game, without a doubt. I’m hitting the ball longer and straighter. I tried many clubs but the AP1s felt lighter, looked better and gave me the best results overall. Ping G Le Fairway CHRISTINE APPLEBY…

Which Top 100 course offers the best-value day out? David Wilson, Liverpool I think you would have to plump for Silloth on Solway in Cumbria – a good rule of thumb is that the more off-the-beaten-track ones reward the effort to get there. What’s the most impressive recent course upgrade? Malcolm Chapman, Edinburgh The Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is the most celebrated. Elsewhere, it’s been great to see the likes of Adare Manor, Prince’s, Effingham, Royal Portrush and Stoke Park benefiting from long-term, loving and painstaking work. Which is the most enjoyable of the ‘Three Ws’ in Surrey? Jane Slater, Richmond In our rankings the order is Worplesdon, West Hill and then Woking, but while I rank Worplesdon first, Jeremy prefers West Hill. There is no right answer when…

Feature-packed electric trolleys tend to take up a lot of room, while space-saving options can lack the features golfers find useful. This is no longer the case thanks to the PowaKaddy Compact C2i GPS. Its compact-folding frame makes it the smallest around in terms of volume, and now integrated GPS features on a handle pre-loaded with over 38,000 courses worldwide, so there’s no need for any external device. FEATURE PACKED On the 2.8” full-colour display, the front, middle and back distances are shown and you can also access distances to reach upcoming hazards. This certainly comes in handy when plotting strategy and club selection for the upcoming shot. The distances are accurate, quick to update and surprisingly easy to read on the display, even in bright sunlight. The handle itself…

Golf GPS technology is evolving constantly, but there’s arguably no device more feature-packed than the SkyCaddie SX500. It boasts a 5” full-colour HD and glove-friendly screen and uses in-built Wi-Fi to download the latest, ground-verified courses from more than 35,000 available for improved accuracy. PLENTIFUL FEATURES “The SX500 may well be the most complete handheld GPS ever made” The list of features is far too long to outline fully here, although highlights include custom pin settings, multiple viewing options and a 13-megapixel camera. The green view will also dynamically rotate to show full IntelliGreen Pro information from the golfer’s own angle of attack. It also features multiple yardage arcs overlaid on fairway landing areas and greens. While it still has an annual membership fee system in place, we feel the…

Golf fashion is becoming more and more about outfits you can wear to the course as well as on it, and not many brands do this better than British-based Wolsey. RICH HERITAGE Established way back in 1755, it describes itself as “the oldest British menswear brand built on design and quality for the modern explorer”. Wolsey was firmly on the map in the early 1900s, providing underwear for the Scott expedition to the South Pole, as well as over 18 million pieces of underwear, jerseys and scarves to the British and Allied troops during the First World War. Golf experienced a boom in the 1920s and Wolsey devoted a special production line to make golf hose and socks. Today, many golfers take advantage of a more relaxed approach to dress…

This training aid allows golfers to work on their game at home or outside and provides instant visual feedback. The glossy mirror surface helps golfers identify their stroke path, while the stand-alone 50mm putting gate, as well as the set of two three-inch magnetic alignment guides, allow golfers to practise eye, shoulder and clubface alignment. It’s an addictive piece of kit, especially once you start to see improved results – and we’re confident you will.…

SkyTrak is becoming just as popular with regular golfers as it is with teaching pros and club fitters. That's because it's a launch monitor and golf simulator all in one, producing accurate ball data with all the high-definition visuals you expect from top-end simulator software. SkyTrak uses photometric technology to measure actual ball speed, launch angle, back spin and side spin after impact. It also displays carry distance, dispersion and total distance to simulate play and practice as if you were on the course or range. A wide variety of set-up options enable you to configure SkyTrak to display the post-shot information you want, with several alternative views available in Driving Range mode. SkyTrak puts shot results on your screen within seconds. It accurately projects ball flight over a vivid…

For many avid golfers, Galvin Green represents the benchmark for golf apparel performance. This is especially the case for waterproofs, but in recent years it has filtered down to all the other clothing categories, combining top-level performance with eye-catching colours. REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN Galvin Green’s latest innovation is the Ashton Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket, a standalone garment that’s the first streamlined, superlight waterproof jacket of its kind in golf. It’s also the lightest rain jacket ever made by Galvin Green, weighing just 174 grams. This is possible thanks to the unrivalled Gore-Tex membrane being placed on the outside of the jacket, without a face fabric for the first time. This enables water to bead off the surface immediately, creating minimal chilling effect and a much faster dry-off time – you can literally…

1 American Kevin Kisner was born in Aiken, South Carolina on February 15, 1984. He’s married to Brittany Anne DeJarnett and they have two children called Kathleen and Henry. Kathleen was born in June 2014, right before Kisner played in his first Major Championship at the US Open. Henry was born in September 2017 and the family resides in Kisner’s hometown. 2 So far, Kisner has had three PGA Tour victories. The first came in 2015 at the RSM Classic, which he won by six strokes. Two years later he won the Dean and DeLuca Invitational and recently he beat Matt Kuchar to secure the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title. 3 Kisner picked up the game from his father, Steve. In 2014 at the US Open, Kisner surprised his dad…

1 Make sure you have realistic expectations when you stand on the tee of a challenging par 4 like this. There’s so much potential for disaster that a bogey is a very good result for most. Think about this on the tee and form your strategy accordingly. 2 It’s imperative you know how far it is to certain parts of the water, and how far bad, average and good drives go. A good drive might be enough to carry the water or bunkers at a certain angle but a bad drive may not, so it’s wise to adapt your strategy and play safer because of this. Also, don’t forget to consider other factors like how downhill the drive is, or the wind. 3 Lay up down the right-hand side to…

What makes a Skechers golf shoe unique? That has to be the out-of-the-box comfort. There’s no wearing in, no softening up, just put them on and go play golf. Genuine feedback from our tour players is also instrumental in the design and development of the shoes. We value and take on board their input. Which is your favourite 2019 model? It would have to be our new spikeless models, the Mojo Elite and Mojo Punch Shot. They’re two feature-packed lightweight shoes. Those who prefer a more traditional full-leather upper will like the Punch Shot, while golfers seeking a summer, sporty and fashionable-looking shoe will prefer the Mojo Elite. It’s a big collection. How do golfers choose the best shoe for them? The best way is to follow what we call…

The Jordan Mixed Open was the first ever professional tournament to bring male, female and senior golfers together. Uniting 40 players from the Challenge Tour, 40 from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 40 from the Staysure Senior Tour, together with three amateurs, they competed for a purse of just under $400,000. Collaborative set-up Each group of players used different tees and officials from each tour collaborated to set the course up with a view to establishing a level playing field. They managed it, with Daan Huizing of the Challenge Tour a two-shot winner over LET player Meghan MacLaren. The fact this tournament took place at all was a giant positive step. One of the great things in our sport is its inclusivity and the fact players of all ages…

Arecent poll posted on social media by former World No.1 Luke Donald asked what the biggest hurdle the game faces is. He gave four options: the distance the ball is going, pace of play, the rules and the cost of golf. You could certainly add a fifth – how difficult golf is to master, but that’s not a major issue for Luke! The poll garnered over 26,000 responses and hundreds of comments, with golfers chipping in proving what a hot topic it is. It will come as little surprise to hear that pace of play, with 46% of the vote, was cited as golf’s biggest issue. The distance the ball goes had 8% and the rules of golf 9% of the vote. The cost of golf was a clear second,…

Colin Montgomerie Only three players have more European Tour titles than Monty’s 31. He was European number one for seven successive years from 1993, and topped the money list in 2005. He’s ninth on the European Tour’s career money list. Sandy Lyle The two-time Major Champion has racked up 18 European Tour victories during his stellar career. His first Major win came at the 1985 Open and three years later he conquered Augusta. Russell Knox In 2015, Knox became the first Scot to win a WGC event (HSBC Champions). A year later he won the Travelers Championship, and last season, the Irish Open. Catriona Matthew In 2009, Matthew became the first Scottish player to win a women’s Major. It came less than three months after giving birth. ‘Beany’, the Solheim…

1 Turn On The Power I feel I gain more power with a shorter, more efficient swing that makes it easier for me to return the clubface square to the ball. The squarer the clubface, the further the ball is going to go. As I take the club back, I like to feel that my left arm is parallel to the ground and then let momentum take it to the top. I much prefer that to trying to swing long and momentum then taking the club too far. For many people, their perception about the top of the backswing means they go too far – they really try to get it all the way back but end up taking it across the line, costing themselves power and accuracy. Focus on…

1 A common misconception is that you push your hands forward at address, creating shaft lean and presenting the club to the ball as a digging, rather than gliding, tool. That’s more likely to get the ball skipping and skidding and struggling to spin. The pros now tend to use a wider, shallower swing that creates a shallower angle of attack to get the bounce working so the club glides through the grass. At impact, shaft position should be fairly vertical, not leaning forward. 2 The correct set-up will simplify the whole swing. Have your balance on the inside of the left foot, your sternum over the middle of the ball and your feet narrower than for a full swing. Feel a relatively soft hand and arm action, which combines…

Reader: Alex Lodge (left) Handicap: 10 Home club: Lamberhurst GC Coach: GM Top 25 Coach Clive Tucker (right) Clive’s assessment Alex’s main problem was he had the wrong perception of where the clubhead should be at certain points in the swing – mostly the takeaway, where the clubface was pointing straight up halfway back. It was pretty much like that coming down, leaving the face more open to the target, which is why he was slicing it and losing distance. This was also encouraging a kind of ‘picky’ release as Alex tried to square the face and ‘save’ shots. Effectively, he had to flip it with his hands to hit a square shot. Clive’s remedy I got Alex to take the club back to parallel with the ground, with the…

Verdict The feel and consistency of the Apex iron is exceptional and it is certainly one of the best-looking models in 2019, blending a compact hitting area with thicker topline to inspire confidence. It is one of the best all-rounders, providing a little bit of everything – notably some extra forgiveness on slight mishits – with no obvious weakness. It also rewards centred strikes with consistent distances and square-faced shots from the heel or toe hold their line surprisingly well. The feel does stand out compared with other irons of a similar size. It’s soft and pure, leaving you excited to hit another shot. It's a little more powerful than the Apex Pro, which feels softer and is slightly more workable due to its smaller size. The premium price tag…

Verdict As an all-round performer, the M5 has many, if not all, the aesthetic and performance attributes the avid golfer looks for. Low spin and high launch combine with excellent ball speed to really maximise distance via a high, towering flight, although the 30° 7-iron is slightly stronger than the M3. The feel is hot and yet it doesn’t sound clicky, like some distance irons can. Lower spin might make left-to-right dispersion a little more difficult for the mid-handicapper to control, and reduce stopping power into firm greens, but the ball speeds were very consistent from different strike locations across the face, especially slightly thin shots. There’s much to admire here, and although it comes with a premium price tag, we saw improvements across the board. Key Technology Replacing the…

Tommy Fleetwood has added a Ping G410 3-wood to his bag. He still uses a Nike Vapor Fly 5-wood and a TaylorMade M6 driver. Gary Woodland put a Ping G410 Plus driver in play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin Paul Casey added a Mizuno JPX919 Hot Metal Pro 4-iron to win at the Valspar. He also used an MP-25 3-iron, the rest are MP-5s. Rory McIlroy won the Players with a TaylorMade M5 driver and a Spider X putter. It was his 15th PGA Tour win. Patrick Reed has recently switched to a Titleist 718 CB/MB combo iron set heavily covered in lead tape.…

Driver COBRA King F9 Yellow, 9° (set to +1), 45.5in, Project X HZRDUS Smoke 6.0 60 shaft Fairway wood COBRA King F9 Yellow 3-4 (set to -1), 43in, Project X HZRDUS Red 6.0 75 shaft Utility irons COBRA King Black Utility 2-3 and 3-4 set to 18° and 21.5°, Recoil F4 Smacwrap stiff flex graphite shafts Irons, 5-PW COBRA King Forged Tec Black One-Length, 1° flat, -¼in, Recoil F4 Smacwrap stiff flex graphite shafts Wedges COBRA King Black Versatile Grind 50°, 54° & 58°, 1° flat, variable length KBS C-Taper Lite stiff flex 110 shafts All clubs Lamkin Rel Black Connect grips…

Stay Gailes Hotel, Irvine With easy access to all of the area’s rich array of golf, it would be difficult to find a better position for a base than this friendly hotel right next door to Gailes Links. There is a driving range and a nine-hole course in the grounds, a gym and a good restaurant. Eat/drink The Ship, Irvine This historic pub has strong links with Robert Burns and is highly regarded for both its real ale and adventurous menu! Also play We featured four of the biggest guns last October: Prestwick, Royal Troon, Western Gailes and Dundonald. As for the supporting cast, Irvine is a fine James Braid design, the town of Troon has several well-priced courses and there are attractive parkland alternatives at the likes of Largs,…

Telford Hotel & Golf Resort Par 72, 6,741 yards The back nine in particular at Telford is blessed with real character, but before that, only a perfectly positioned tee shot on the sharp dogleg-right 8th will allow you to bypass an imposing tree and leave a shot over water. Coming home, the self-enclosed par-3 11th plays up to a green backed by pines, while the short par-4 15th is classic risk-reward. The hotel blends the old with the new, with corner rooms enjoying a double aspect over the golf course one way and across to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Ironbridge Gorge the other. There are 114 rooms in total, ranging from Classic to Superior King, Deluxe and Family. The 1779 restaurant, named in honour of the year the…