Gear to Ease Your Game
by SCOTT KRAMER
ONE THING WE KNOW ABOUT GOLF EQUIPMENT : it makes the game incrementally easier to play every year . Incorporating technical improvements , new materials , or even more streamlined shaping , it aims to further your on-course enjoyment . That ’ s especially true of the 2023 lot , which presents you with some nice options .
NEW BALANCE // 997 GOLF SHOE
Perhaps best known for its comfortable running shoes , New Balance has a throng of fitness enthusiasts devoted to its iconic and long-standing 997 line . And now golfers can get that same classic sneaker style with cleats . The brand ’ s lightweight 997 golf shoe sports a waterproof microfiber leather upper , plus padding on the tongue and collar . Its CUSH + insole and shock-absorbing midsole cushion every step . It ’ s an irresistible blend of aesthetics and comfort that makes the fairways a pleasure to walk . The rubber outsole employs Fast Twist 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats with eight flexible legs for exceptional comfort and green-friendly pads that grip the turf for solid traction . The outsole itself uses multi-faceted flex grooves that allow the shoe to move with the natural motion of your foot . It ’ s offered in a variety of widths and colors . $ 120 ,
newbalance . com
SRIXON // ZX5 MKII
If you like Srixon ’ s excellent golf balls , then check out the brand ’ s golf clubs , too . Start with the new ZX5 MkII driver ($ 500 ) that includes a “ Rebound Frame ” — a unique ball speed system delivering efficient energy transfer into the ball at impact . Two flex zones in the frame work in concert to generate ball speed and distance . One by the clubface deforms inwardly at impact , while the other that ’ s set back from the face deforms outwardly . As the zones snap back to shape just after impact , the compounded energy transfer is more powerful and efficient than with standard designs . The driver has a large footprint , flattened shape , and a rear weight placed low-and-deep for drives that launch high and straight . Hosel and sole weights are adjustable . $ 500 ,
us . dunlopsports . com / srixon
38 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2023
vsga . org