New Golf Clubs: Ping G20 Driver

The USGA recently tested and approved Ping G20 Driver. Here's some details for you guys:

The new Ping Driver is expected to hit retail stores in mid-August. This driver features a 5% increase in MOI due to the head shape, a 460CC head (despite it looking even more massive) and is accompanied with either a TFC 169D or TFC 169D Tour shaft to produce a softer feel.

When compared head-to-head against the G15, the G20 produced a 0.75 degree increase in launch angle, with 200 RPM less spin, and 1MPH increased ball speed off center hits. Not a huge difference if you ask this golfer, but who knows - the tour guys are already playing this driver, after it's release at the Fedex St. Jude Classic... so it's gotta be good.

The Ping G20 Driver has a heavier head than G15 (7 grams more than standard) for greater force at impact. Additional backweighting and a more elongated face shore up misses. (Ping "shaved" the head in the low toe area to meet the 460cc size limit.) The reconfigured clubhead - 5 percent higher moment of inertia on heel or toe hits - combines with a light, 45.75-inch "high-balance point" shaft (TFC 169D or TFC 169D Tour) to boost clubhead speed and, thus, distance. Specifically, the TFC 169D shaft has more flexible tip and butt sections for softer feel.

In total, G20 launches shots 0.75 degrees higher than G15, with 200 rpm less spin and 1 mph faster ball speed on center hits, which adds up to five yards more carry and roll.

It proved to be a bright day for Australian golf as Bryden Macpherson ended his country's 57-year winless drought in the British Amateur Championship.

Macpherson defeated Scotland's Michael Stewart 3&2 in the 36-hole final at Southport's Hillside Golf Club, rounding off a superb day for the Australians with Jason Day runner-up at the US Open and Matthew Zions claiming maiden European Tour success at Saint-Omer.

"I can't believe it just yet," said Macpherson, who becomes the first Australian to win the championship since Doug Bachli in 1954.

"It feels pretty good to bridge the gap of 57 years. My judgement of speed was awesome but the real key was patience. As hard as it was to believe, I had complete confidence that it was going to happen for me this week.