Equipment
Great New Gear to Ring in the Year
THIS IS PERPETUALLY THE BEST TIME OF YEAR to check out new golf equipment . And all of the gear hitting the market this month comes with the promise of helping you improve your game and making golf more enjoyable . What ’ s not to like ?
by SCOTT KRAMER
BRIDGESTONE e6 Speed ball
Bridgestone developed its new soft-feeling and lively e6 Speed ball based on data it amassed from some two million ball-fitting sessions . Company officials invite golfers to compare it side-by-side against the leading balls on the market , claiming this model is nine yards longer and 31 percent straighter . “ We ’ ve learned through years of conducting fittings that the vast majority of golfers are using a ball that ’ s detrimental to their performance ,” says Adam Rehberg , who is in charge of Bridgestone ’ s ball marketing . “ Few generate the speed necessary to make the ( popular ) Tour balls perform optimally , and the results could be dramatic losses in distance and accuracy . This new e6 is precisely designed to provide longer and straighter shots .” ($ 29 / dozen , bridgestonegolf . com )
MIZUNO JPX900 driver
Mizuno ’ s blue-headed JPX900 is as adjustable a driver as exists on the market . It has a track up the middle of the sole , along which two eightgram adjustable weights can be locked anywhere to help golfers zero in on the precise trajectory height they want . Its clubface can be easily and quickly set to be open , neutral or closed . And to boot , fade and draw weight ports help directional control . A newfangled clubface is five grams lighter than the one on its predecessor JPX850 driver , which frees up discretionary weight and expands the COR area . That , in turn , boosts forgiveness and ball speed on off-center hits . ($ 500 , mizunousa . com / Golf )
38 V IRGINIA G OLFER | JANUARY / F EBRUARY 2017 vsga . org