Since the weather has been gorgeous the last few days, I decided to go hit some golf balls. And since I was going, I might was well take a few new clubs with me and review them for the readers. Since this is my first review, I feel that I should give you a few details about my skill level.

I am not a pro. I’m not even on the same planet as Tiger, Phil and the gang. I’m not even a super-low handicapper. I’m just your every -day average Joe Golfer. More than likely, my skill level matches yours. As such, that’s how I will approach my review. I’m not going to use a lot of technical jargon or golf specific terms. I’ll just give an honest review that the average golfer can use to help in deciding which equipment to buy.

With that said, the two clubs I decided to review are the Taylor Made R9 (with FCT technology) and the Nike SQ Dymo (with Str8-Fit technology). The advantage that these two clubs offer over other clubs is the ability to change the weighting of the club and club face and angle to alter your shot. I’ll get into each specific technology in a moment.

The Numbers

First, I needed to set up a point of reference for how the two clubs changed my shot, so I hit a few balls with my current driver to determine how I strike the ball. Currently, I hit a Callaway X460 driver with an 11 degree loft. Here’s the breakdown of my shots with the Callaway, as a reference:

• 10% – Straight
• 60% – Slight fade
• 30% – Ugly slice
• Average Distance – 225 yards
   

After making the necessary adjustments to the R9 and the Dymo, here’s the breakdown for those clubs:

Taylor Made

• 15% – Straight
• 65% – Slight fade
• 20% – Ugly slice
• Average Distance – 235 yards
   

Nike

• 30% – Straight
• 60% – Slight fade
• 10% – Ugly slice
• Average Distance – 245 yards
   

While neither club totally eradicated my slice, the Nike club did a better job of turning the slice and the fade into very playable balls. It also increased my yardage by a good bit, probably because I hit more balls straighter. The Taylor Made, while helping with the slice, didn’t do enough to make the balls I hit playable. If I still can’t land in the fairway, what good is the club to me?
Advantage: Nike

The Technology

The Taylor Made R9 comes with Flight Control Technology. What is that you ask? Basically, it’s a technology that allows you to adjust the loft, lie and face angle of the club. The club comes with a small tool that can be used to adjust the club head and weights in the back of the head. All of this is done so that you can keep your swing ugly (like mine) but get better results. The tool that came with the R9 was small and pretty easy to use. I was able to adjust the club pretty easily between swings. And as the results above show, I was able to improve my accuracy.

The Nike SQ Dymo comes with Str8-Fit technology. Str8 Fit allows you to move the club head around to open or close the club face. Similar to the R9, the Nike technology gives the golfer the ability to improve accuracy by tweaking the club to compensate for your natural swing. The club comes with a wrench to loosen and tighten the club head for adjustment. The wrench is a little bulky, but it comes with an audio and visual alarm to let you know when the club head is sufficiently tight, so that you don’t damage the shaft or club head by applying too much torque.

After using and adjusting both, I’d have to say that the Nike made life a little easier. The head was easy to remove and adjust. The Taylor Made, while easy to use, required that I adjust the club-head and tinker with the weights to find the right set-up. The Nike club made the switch much simpler. And for me, simple is the key.
Advantage: Nike

The Aesthetics

You want your new driver to look really cool and intimidating in your bag, right? You want the person you are playing against the think that you are about to decimate them. And you need the look of your club to do that.
Both clubs look really nice. The Taylor Made has a classic look with very simple lines. The Nike club is also very streamlined, but unlike the Taylor Made (which has the screws visible in the back and bottom of the club head); it remains clean all the way throughout. The Nike club looks much sleeker without the bulky screws that show on the Taylor Made.
Advantage: Nike

The Miscellaneous

The Nike club has a pretty cool head cover, that I had never seen before. It’s not like normal head covers that have the long, sock-like, tube that you have to pull the club head through. The Nike cover has a small Velcro flap at the top to hold the club head in and a small pincher-like (I have no idea how to describe it) device at the bottom to secure the shaft. This makes it very easy to put the head cover on and off after each shot, which is very important for me, since I don’t like to get my club head dinged up rattling around in my bag.

The head cover also came with a storage compartment for the wrench. While this is convenient, I’d be a little concerned about how the extra weight of the wrench will affect the shaft as it sits in your bag. I’m a little worried about the shaft being warped over time.

The Taylor Made, for whatever reason, seemed a bit easier to swing. I felt like I didn’t have to put quite as much effort into it. The adjustment tool is also nice and compact and fits easily in your bag. The grip that came on the Taylor Made also was more comfortable than that of the Nike.
Advantage: Push

Overall

With the price of these clubs being the same, you can’t really go wrong with either one. You’ll more than likely hit the ball straighter with either club. But, if you want a good value for your money, then my choice is the Nike SQ Dymo with Str8—Fit. I had straighter shots and more distance than I got with my regular driver. It was easier to adjust and Nike takes care of the little things that are important to a golfer such as me. Plus, it just looks like a bad ass club.

For my money, the Nike SQ Dymo with Str8-Fit is the way to go. Now if I can only convince my wife that I need to buy one…

[Editor Note: Here is a promo video from Nike that shows a bit more about the technology behind the club]

The International Golf Federation (IGF) is making a push to make golf an Olympic sport.  Annika Sorenstam, Colin Montgomerie and other tour leaders have been meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week with the goal of making golf an Olympic sport in 2016.  Six other sports (baseball, squash, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens and softball) are trying to do the same.

The IOC is listening to proposals from all 7 sports and will select 2 sports in August that will join the 26 current summer Olympic events.  Golf is believed t to be the unofficial front-runner among the 7, due to its wide appeal and international presence.

The IGF’s presentation will call for a 72-hole stroke play tournament for men and women.  There will be a 60 player field and three hole play-offs will determine the medal winners.

The US Open is adamant about keeping the current 18-hole play-off format, despite being the only major that does so.  USGA Executive Director David Fay, when asked if the format would change anytime soon, said, “We are doggedly determined to go 18 holes.”

One has to question why we need a full 18-hole play-off.  Last years battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Meidate, while fantastic, is a rare occurrence.  The extra day also puts a drain on the USGA’s finances.  With the extra day, the USGA spent extra money on:

- Another day of buses: $120,000 ($45,000 for smaller buses)

- Security: $30,000

- Parking: $60,000

- Lunches and travel costs (no amount given)

Overall, the costs added up to just over a half a million dollars.

It would seem to me that with that much money being shelled out and the rarity of match-ups like last years, the US Open would follow suit with the other majors and go with a sudden death play-off.

And I’d be all for it.

What do you think?  Should the US Open keep the 18-hole format or move to sudden death?

Camilo Villegas has landed one of the top caddies in all of golf for the US Open.  Villegas found himself in need of a caddy after Gary Matthews left him for part-time work with Sergio Garcia.  But he was not without a caddy for very long.

At a charity event shortly after his caddy left, Villegas was teamed up with Fred Couples.  Since Couples will not be at Bethpage, he offered up the services of his caddy, Joe LaCava, who is considered one of the best in the business.  LaCava also works with Davis Love III.  He’ll work the St Jude Invitational and the US Open with Villegas.

When asked why he parted with Matthews, Villegas stated the Matthews wanted to start a family and work a little less.

Here’s an interesting article regarding Bridgestone’s new line of golf balls.

I thinks its pretty cool that they did a ton of research around the swings and skills of the average golfer and built a ball around that.  The article mentions that often, golf balls are designed for tour level players and then later brought to market, presumably without much thought about the regular golfer.  It’s nice to see the Bridgestone is taking the opposite approach and focusing on golfers like me.

Maybe I’ll buy a few boxes and test them out.

Looks like the US Open will return to Oakmont in 2016.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its website today that the Open will make its ninth trip to Oakmont.  The Open has played in Oakmont in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994 and most recently 2007.  The USGA is expected to make an official announcement later this month.

The first golf course designed by Tiger Woods will not open as scheduled due to worsening economic conditions in Dubai.  The scheduled opening has been delayed by at least 6 months.

“It’s six months as of right now,” Woods said in an interview at the Memorial. “It’s going to be behind schedule. Obviously, the economy has turned over there and they’ve slowed down construction because of it.”

The total project, called “Tiger Woods Dubai”, includes 100 villas, 75 mansions, 22 palaces and a 360,000 square foot luxury hotel.  The course only had 3 holes under construction when the project was halted.

Woods has 2 other courses in the works – one  in North Carolina (The Cliffs at High Carolina) and one in Mexico (Punta Brava).  Both courses are awaiting permits but otherwise are on schedule.  The North Carolina course is expected to open in the middle of 2010 and the Mexico course is slated to open in late 2010.

Ryder Cup Captains Colin Montgomerie (Europe) and Corey Pavin (US) have laid out some expectations for team members and hopeful team members.

Montgomerie has stated that he expects candidates for the European team to play Celtic Manor Wales Open next year.  Miguel Angel Jimenez is the only European hopeful who is in the field this week at Celtic Manor.  This comes just a month after Montgomerie stressed the importance of gaining a knowledge of the course prior to the Cup.

“I am sure I will get a number to say ‘yes’ and I would expect those potential Ryder Cup players to be playing.”, Montgomerie said.

Corey Pavin has set forth a similar expectation for the American team members.  Pavin said he wouldn’t require that his team play in the Wales Open, but they should find time to play the course prior to the Ryder Cup match if they don’t.

“It is obviously a little different for us, but what I’m going to do is ask my players who come over for The Open Championship, either before or after, to try to get a couple practice rounds here,” Pavin said. “I certainly would like my potential players to see the course once or twice before Ryder Cup week.”

John Daly, still a week away from his official PGA Tour return at the St. Jude Invitational, has signed an endorsement deal with sports drink company, All Sport.  He signed a multi-year deal with the company and will feature their Big Red brand drink on his bag .  “Corporate America believes in his comeback,” agent Bud Martin said Thursday.

The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will be adding a new course to the mix next year.  The Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club replacing Poppy Hills.  Monterey was last used for the Pro-Am in 1977 and it will join Spyglass Hill for the PGA Tour event.

This will mark the first course change in the event since 1991, when Poppy Hills replaced Cypress Point due to membership issues.  Poppy was the least favorite among the players, with rounds lasting upwards of 6 hours due to the 5 par 5’s and bumpy greens.