Virginia Golfer January/February 2014 | Page 37

Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura X Dual Balance putter Titleist Scotty Cameron Futura X Dual Balance putter Adams Golf XTD driver Titleist putter maker extraordinaire Scotty Cameron has come up with a new twist on the Futura X putter that Adam Scott used to win the Masters last spring. Where Scott’s putter is a broomstick model, the new Futura X Dual Balance is counterbalanced, meaning it has a weight at the top of the shaft to counteract the heavy mallet head. The aluminum head weighs 400 grams—that’s about 50 grams heavier than the standard Futura X head—but a 50-gram weight is placed inside the grip. You choke down a few inches (the grip has a colored bar to show you where) on the shaft, which should be about three inches longer than you normally use to get the counterbalance effect, making your stroke more smooth and consistent. As with Scott’s putter, the Futura X Dual Balance head contains four stainless steel heeltoe weights; two 20-gram weights on the rear balance bar and two 10-gram sole weights in the front corners. This perimeter weighting helps keep the putter stable, and gives it a lower center of gravity for more forgiveness. ($399; scottycameron.com) When the engineers at Adams Golf set out to create the new XTD driver, they went all out—even on the inside. Every head is tested four times during the manufacturing process to make sure it has the maximum legal springlike effect. These strict manufacturing tolerances, the company says, give this driver the hottest face in golf. The top-of-the-line XTD driver also is the only one to feature Adams’ Cut-Thru Slot technology. Carved into the sole and crown, the slots help the face flex more to engender a more pronounced launch velocity and, thus, greater distance. In addition, the heads have no sharp edges or engravings, enhancing their aerodynamics and making them even easier to swing. ($399; adamsgolf.com) Nike VR_S Covert Forged irons Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 driver Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 drivers and Covert Forged irons Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour driver Adams Golf XTD driver The big step forward in the Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 and VR_S Covert Tour drivers is found in the back—specifically in a redesigned cavity. For starters, the cavity’s new shape helps to redistribute weight to the heel and toe to help increase both distance and stability. The cavity also features what Nike calls Fly-Brace technology, which ties the sole to the crown and stiffens the rear portion of the head to transfer more energy to the face at impact. The face is larger and hotter than previous editions, and Nike’ ́