Equipment
Hot and New
for 2018
Take your game to the next level
this year with brand new gear
IT’S A NEW YEAR and that means it’s time for
new gear to hit golf shops. And 2018 is quite a year
for product introductions. Here’s what’s in store.
by SCOTT KRAMER
TOUR EDGE Exotics CBX Iron-Wood club
Hybrids are not for everyone. Yet fairway woods can be difficult to get
airborne for many golfers, and long irons are tough to hit. What’s a golfer to
do? Tour Edge officials think they have a solution with the new
Exotics CBX Iron-Wood. It looks more like an iron, but is
packed with technology to make hitting long shots a
breeze. Its high-tensile, forged ‘L’ cup face is used
to get you maximum distance and forgiveness—
with very little ball spin. $200-250, depending
on finish. touredge.com
WILSON Duo Soft Optix ball
Golf balls that feel soft at impact
used to not travel very far. But things
changed over the years, particularly
with the advent of soft-feeling urethane
covers. Wilson has now gone a step
further, with its new DUO Soft Optix
ball. With a compression rating of just
29, it’s billed as the world’s lowest-
compression multi-layer ball. “It’s
now even longer and more durable,”
says Frank Simonutti, Wilson’s global
director of golf ball innovation. “With a
three percent larger core for increased
ball velocity and a softer, thinner
sodium/zinc ionomer cover for optimal
distance and durability, this newly
formulated two-piece bal l provides low
driver spin, exceptional yardage and
unparalleled soft feel.” $20/dozen.
wilson.com/en-us/golf
COBRA F8 driver
The clubface of Cobra’s F8 driver looks
like something from the industrial future. Its
milled sweetspot circle nearly glances the top
and bottom edges of the all-silver, titanium face.
And it has a really nice texture to it. In Cobra’s
consumer testing, 69 of 72 golfers experienced
drives eight to 12 yards longer than their current driver
model—many of which were 2016 and 2017 editions.
Adjustable heel and rear weights let you fine-tune flight to
your liking, as well. And the included smart grip can be
paired with a free app, to automatically record your driving
statistics. $479. cobragolf.com
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