PING Rapture 3-wood
Ping officials position their 13-degree Rapture 3-wood as a viable alternative to drivers. A tungsten
sole plate that accounts for about one-fourth of the clubhead mass helps substantially lower the
center of gravity more than in a traditional fairway wood. In turn, the technology heightens the
launch angle and lowers spin off the clubface for more distance and enhanced forgiveness. A
tall, extreme variable thickness clubface makes for a larger hitting surface, meaning that more offcenter shots will perform as if they’ve been struck in the heart of the clubface. Players can adjust
loft up and down by a half-degree. A 219cc titanium clubhead, as well as an extreme high balance
point 43.5-inch shaft, boosts ball speed and distance. ($495; ping.com)
ODYSSEY
Tank 2-Ball putter
Odyssey’s Tank 2-Ball putter
is loaded with successful
technology. First of all, its
legendary 2-ball extended
mallet head design is the choice
of millions of amateurs, and has
also helped tour professionals
earn 246 victories and capture
16 major championships. It’s
one of the most popular and
easy-to-use visual alignment
systems to ever emerge in
putters. The company opted
to use this design in its new
Tank line, which features
counterbalance stability
weighting. The heavy 400gram head and 150-gram shaft
combine to reduce hand usage
during the stroke, making
it difficult for golfers to do
anything but use their shoulders
to make a smooth, rhythmic
and pendulum-style stroke.
The weighting scheme creates
significantly more stability
through impact. The putter
is offered in four lengths: 34,
36, 38 and 40 inches. ($200;
odysseygolf.com)
VOLVIK White Color S3 golf balls
Think of Volvik golf balls, and bright neon colors likely come to mind. Yet the
company that encourages you to play balls of every rainbow band has turned to
almost plain white for its new premium, ultra-performance ball. Almost.
Volvik claims its three-piece White Color S3 is the first of its kind in America,
because its coloring is actually a hybrid of white and color. A white base with
a proprietary pearlescent finish provides cool visual effects in bright sunlight.
But this isn’t just a story about aesthetics. The ball features a reinforced highgrade urethane cover that yields soft feel and optimal spin. A Bismuth enhanced
power core maxes out distance by transferring the power from the more solid
inner core to the softer outer layer. And it improves durability from the inside out.
Tim Petrovic plays this ball on the PGA Tour, while several LPGA Tour players
also use it in competition. ($45 per dozen; volvik.com)
Author Scott Kramer is a
writer from Carlsbad, Calif.,
and a regular contributor to
Virginia Golfer.
w w w. v s g a . o r g
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R
14
39