July-August 2010

NOW PLAYING: IRONS

Tour Edge's new and affordable Bazooka HT Max irons ($259 and up) were engineered to improve higher handicappers' games. How? Each HT iron has a different blade length, face height, top-line size, offset, bounce and MOI that help to optimize its distance, trajectory, spin and forgiveness. Look for a progressive undercut cavity that lowers the CG in the long irons for higher-flying shots, and raises it in the scoring irons for more spin and greater feel and control. touredge.com

MacGregor's new and highly forgiving M85i irons ($799) mark the company's reentry into the golf market. The irons feature a deep undercut back cavity and a low, deep CG combined with stronger lofts to create a hot, high trajec-tory. What's best is the multimaterial medallion inside each cavity that dampens vibrations and makes them feel great. Available exclusively at Golfsmith locations and golfsmith.com

Hippo's new hybrid iron set, the XXL ($399), was designed for players who want the most forgiving and accurate iron possible–and who like the iron-wood look. Available with Hippo's proprietary graphite shaft or True Temper steel shafts. Super easy to get airborne. hippo-golf.com

A thin top line, constant offset through the set and a beveled trailing edge on the Adams Idea Pro Black CB1 irons create the look and feel low handicappers crave. The premium set (it rings up for $899-$1,099) features eight Tour-styled forged-carbon-steel heads with a nickel-chrome-plated and black PVD finish. Expect a penetrating ballflight and an exceptionally soft feel. Nice! adamsgolf.com

Feel Golf's new Lee Miller Signature wedges ($119) merge the company's existing muscle back with a cavity-back design. The company also changed the metal composition, varied the club's head weight, redistributed mass, lowered the center of gravity and introduced CNC "Micro Milled" face lines. What does this mean for you? Feel claims these changes help combat the recent groove changes by bringing back the majority of "ball-to-face friction." Available in 10 lofts: 46°-73°. feelwedges.com

Want to walk in the shoes of an LPGA Tour pro? Now you can. Adidas Golf introduces two new offerings that reflect the personalities of Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. The Signature PAULA ($120) features bold colors and Paula-inspired ribbon graphics. The Signature NATALIE ($100) features contrast deco stitching throughout with rhinestone inlays. Both feature THiNTech low-profile technology that helps bring the foot lower to the ground. adidasgolf.com

From Williams Sports, the same people who bring you F1 cars, comes the Black Diamond Series. Ringing up for a cool $50,000 a set, the series includes a $12,000 handmade Italian leather golf bag, a VIP pass for a Formula One race anywhere in the world, 24K solid gold inserts in the weight ports, and shafts coated with ionized 24K gold particles. Want to be custom-fitted? Thankfully there's the more affordable Player Series ($499/driver). williams-sports.com

Amino Vital's Focus Zone contains 2,400mg of the company's proprietary amino acid blend, including glutamine, electrolytes and Vitamin C. But what's best is that you can try it for free. Visit FocusZoneSample.com or amino-vital.com to receive your free sample. Developed with feedback from PGA Tour pros.

Designed by PGA instructors, including Mel Sole of the Ritson-Sole Golf School, Golf Genie, a 64-page Tee to Green Pocket Guide ($15), is packed with lots of tips and advice. It features great visuals that help golfers of all levels hit key shots. Available in retail stores, golf pro shops and as an iPhone app. USGA approved. golfhelptips.com

Sway too much during your swing? The PivotPro ($89) can help you stop. Simply clamp your foot into its wedge-like brace (much like a ski boot) and make a swing without bumping into its affixed aluminum rod. It's designed to help golfers turn their torso against their rear leg and their lead hip toward the target–two ingredients that generate a powerful pivot. Prevents casting and reverse pivots, too. Fits shoe sizes 7 to 14. pivotpro.net

Geox's new line of footwear, the Protech WPF ($220) was designed specifically for professional players. It's more stable and flexible, thanks to a torsion system in its TPU, which was applied to the upper in the heel area, and features a technology called Net System, which guarantees breathable comfort in the shoe. geox.com/golf

The Spotless Swing Golf Towel ($20) is three golf towels in one. The outside keeps your hands, face, gloves and grips clean and dry, while the inside removes dirt, mud and water from your golf clubs. Plus it features a textured fabric that cleans your grooves. spotlessswing.com

Odyssey's new Backstryke putter ($199) comes in three styles: the Marxman, 2-Ball and Blade. What separates it from the rest of the pack? It features something called "visible face alignment," an unobstructed sight line that aids with alignment. It also features "forward press stabilization" (a natural shaft lean toward the target) that promotes the proper hand position that produces better roll, stability and top spin. Comes in lengths between 33 and 35 inches. odysseygolf.com

We were big fans of Clicgear's pushcart at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show, so when we heard that they had introduced an improved version, we couldn't wait to see it. (We weren't disappointed.) The Clicgear Model 3.0 ($199) includes a larger console, removable beverage holder, four new accessory mounts, an improved easy lever brake, new storage net and improved grip material. Comes in seven colors, including kiwi, orange, silver and red. clicgear.com

The sporty Millwood drycool polo ($75) from Abacus is made of a cotton/polyester drycool pique, but feels like a cotton polo on the outside. However, the polyester drycool fabric gives the polo the same features as a functional polo; the wicking draws moisture away from your body keeping you comfortable and dry. Features a pocket on the left chest, and a print on the right sleeve. Comes in apple/cactus, lagoon/Hawaiian ocean and white/navy. abacus-outdoor.com

The affordable, efficient and easy-to-use Belt Caddy ($20) securely holds your tees, balls, divot tool, ball marker and glove. So no more carrying lots of sharp, bulky items in your pockets? Sounds good to us! Clips on to your belt or directly to your clothing. golftools.org

Callaway claims their new, X-24 Hot Irons ($699-$899) are the longest, most accurate X-Series irons ever. How'd they do it? Well, they utilized Callaway's proprietary VFT Face Technology, 360-degree undercut channel and a precise center of gravity to create a large and effective hitting area. Look for a new Stealth PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finish that reduces glare. callawaygolf.com

The retro-hip Pow Golf Gloves ($19) come in two different styles: the Townie and Noonan (men's and ladies' versions available). Both come in houndstooth and argyle styles and feature different cuffs and closures. Made from cabretta leather. powgloves.com

The custom-made putters from Edel Golf come in three unique designs that can be built to a golfer's specific needs: Basic, Variable Weight and Variable Loft (shown). All putters are precisely milled from a block of 303 stainless steel and are available in six head shapes. edelgolf.com

TaylorMade's new Rossa Corza Ghost mallet putter ($159) has received a ringing endorsement from putting guru Dave Stockton, the man who helped Phil Mickelson find his stroke. Features a white mallet that makes it easier to see the leading edge, and three black top lines that make aligning your putts a breeze. Comes in 33-, 34- and 35-inch models. LH too! taylormadegolf.com

BOOKS

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist Kelly Sullivan Walden's new book Zone Golf ($19) claims to be the only book that demonstrates how self-hypnosis can help you master your golf game. Follow her program, she claims, and you'll say goodbye to the yips for good. Comes with an accompanying audio CD of self-hypnosis tracks.

A number-one bestseller in the UK, John Richardson's Dream On ($24), chronicles the 24-handicapper's quest to break par–in one year (while maintaining his full-time job and family life). We won't give away the ending, but it sounds like he read our magazine.

Written by Neil Hayes and Brian Murphy, The Last Putt ($26) tells the story of the 1995 NCAA Men's Golf Championship–and the changing face of golf. Who played? An "all-American" OSU team against the culturally diverse Stanford squad of Notah Begay, Casey Martin and, oh yeah, Tiger Woods. The face of golf was never the same.

First published in 2005, Robert Sidorsky's updated version of Golf Courses of the World: 365 Days ($30) includes information and photos on 365 of the world's most beautiful golf courses, 200 of which are new entries. Stretching 744 pages, it includes 500 photos, and plenty of information on courses open to the public.

Gary Player isn't just one of golf's most recognizable players, he's also one of its most successful businessmen. Now, in his new memoir, cowritten with Dr. Bob Rotella, called Don't Choke: A Champion's Guide to Winning Under Pressure ($20), he writes about the pressure-packed situations he faced, how he handled them and what you can learn from his experiences.