In 2010 Graeme McDowell burst onto the golf scene by winning the US Open and then followed it up with a win at the Chevron Wold Cup Challenge and a ton of other top 10 finishes. Now Graeme McDowell seems to be a staple in the Sunday 1st page leaderboard and has become a media favorite, including a visit on the Feherty Show (imagine that).

This year Graeme has teamed up with Irish company Kartel to bring us the G-Mac line of clothing (I have previously reviewed Kartel). On a side note I must admit that since I started writing for Three Guys Golf  I find myself watching golf and trying to figure out what tour players are wearing – yeah I know it is lame but it is what I have been reduced to. Anyhow, it always seems that the gear the pros wear is just a bit cooler than what is offered in stores (even if it is by the same company). In the case of G-Mac, I am pretty sure the purple polo I have is nearly identical to what McDowell wears (sans the MasterCard logo). You know the shirt I am talking about – the one with the high collar and front pocket that looks so money!

In my opinion, the shirt is absolutely brilliant. Light, soft, stylish and well cut. Despite the fact that it is 95% poly, it feels much softer and lush than most poly blend performance shirts. Moreover, it is one of the classiest shirts I have seen. Perhaps it is the combination of the high collar and buttoned down tabs that gives it an upper crust feel but whatever it is, G-Mac has pulled it off. Even the packaging is better than most. Each garment comes elegantly packaged with a gold embossed tag that has the McDowell Family Crest and explanation upon it. I get the sense that Graeme was very involved in this line and wanted to make sure it reflected well upon him and his reputation. The only drawback of this shirt is that for whatever reason, it does show sweat if you wear it in humid weather. I am not sure if it is because of the color or the material, but when I wore it on a humid day you could clearly see darker areas of perspiration.

The Malone polo is a bit more casual but has nice details that make the shirt pop. This polo is 63% pima cotton 37% poly, although from the feel of it I thought it was 100% cotton. You will note the orange accents which I think set it apart from your run of the mill shirts. While some folks like a 100% poly shirt, I really like that this feels like cotton but has some of the performance of a poly.

Performance aside, the reason this shirt is a winner is the orange buttons, breast pocket and long plackette. Both of these shirts are also super easy to care for and come out of the wash looking just as sharp as when they were new. Additionally, I just really like the fact that the Malone polo is primarily cotton especially as we change seasons when cotton becomes the go-to fabric.

The final item we recieved was MG Wool Sweater. Like most guys, when it gets cool I just throw on the wind breaker. Coincidentally, just after receiving the G-Mac sweater we had a cold snap on the very day I was to play in a tournament. On that day, what I really liked about the sweater was that it was light enough that it never felt bulky but warm enough to take the chill off. Plus it is soft enough to wear over a short sleeve shirt.

Being such a bold color makes it pretty easy to pair this with just about anything and it just looks miles better than a blue wind breaker. Moreover, they allow for much better movement as there is no constriction. The other advantage of having a quality golf sweater is that is versatile enough to wear off of the course and not look like a golf geek.

As we move through our first year at Three Guys Golf, one of the things I am learning is that there is a ton of really cool golf attire that is just not sold in the big box stores. Moreover, many of these companies are European. While it takes a bit of digging, if you are one of those people who wants to look a bit sharper than the next guy, G-Mac is a great place to start. Even though we only looked at three items, the G-Mac line is fairly expansive and not too pricey. Finally, in terms of sizing, the G-Mac runs in line with industry standards. I typically wear a medium and the G-Mac medium fit perfectly.

You can see the whole line of G-Mac on their website.

Barefoot B.E.R.B.S Review: We all know there’s been an onslaught of new style golf shoes to hit the market over the past several years and frankly the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. New designs from the major manufactures and upstart companies encompassing all facets of shoe development are arriving at your local golf retailer what seems like daily. It makes the choice and decision to purchase some new shoes that much more difficult.

New to the game is Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. (B.etter E.nergy R.ecovery B.alance S.tability) who have taken the small market ideology of barefoot running and applied it to the game of golf.

When I first started reading about the B.E.R.B.S. my first thought that came to mind was an appearance by Sean Foley on “The Golf Fix” where he talked about having some of his pupils perform some drills barefoot. At the time I thought that was silly. I’ve always been taught play how you practice and practice how you play and I can’t recall anytime that I’ve been shoeless while on the course. Despite my doubt, I was willing to give the Barefoot BERBS a try and see if this new Barefoot Technology for golf is all it’s cracked up to be.

To make matters more interesting, not only are these shoes unlike anything I have worn, but they also come with instructions. Yup, when I opened the box I was presented with these tips for breaking in the Barefoot BERBS. Basically, because of the design, you will be using new muscles which requires a bit of time to get used to.

What? I shouldn’t wear my Kentwools? As much as a love to follow directions, I just can’t justify my feet to not being surrounded by some Kentwool socks when I’m playing golf. So, other than the lightweight sock suggestion I took into consideration everything else they mentioned and actually wore the shoes (without the spikes) around the house while I knocked out my honey-do list. I even changed out a water valve in one of my toilets while wearing them. If that’s not the ultimate test for a golf shoe I don’t know what is!

Their claims of a lightweight golf shoe are no joke. The B.E.R.B.S. shoes are SUPER light. Honestly I was very surprised at how great the shoes felt once I put them on. Made out of Full-Grain Leather and very waterproof the design concept of the shoe is great. The shoes do not have any laces (there are two Velcro straps, one across the top and a second around your heel that hold the shoe in place) and the word “slipper” instantly jumps into your head when you look down on at your feet. Without a doubt you can very easily slip in and slip out of the BERBS., but by no means are these slippers.

After a few hours with the shoes on my feet I started to understand the reasoning for the disclaimer. I was feeling a little discomfort it in my calfs the most, but also in my feet. Not being used to having this type of structure did take some time for my legs to adjust to but in time the subtle discomfort passed and the shoes felt wonderful. In fact, I ended up wearing them the entire day!

When reviewing a golf shoe I think the most important aspect to pass on to the reader is the comfort and feel of the shoe and this is where Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. knocks it out of the park. Their shoe is amazingly comfortable for barefoot style shoe; it’s incredibly light and in no way is it a nuisance to your game. I purposely walked over some pretty aggressive hillsides, splashed around a few deeper than normal water puddles and hit a couple of shots from some very unfavorable stances (not on purpose) and the shoes didn’t disappoint one bit! Even in those extreme conditions. After playing I thought for sure I was going to experience some sort of leg discomfort but that wasn’t the case. The shoes performed flawlessly and my feet felt great.

The idea of being lower to the ground and having a more solid base is appealing, but does it make a difference? I think so. I found in playing a few rounds in the shoes and using them frequently to practice that my balance has shown some improvement. I find myself not being as fidgety with my feet and my lower half has quieted down some as well. I’m not sure how scientific that is but it has me thinking.

The only issue I have with the Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. is its look. The fact is you either like a shoes look or you don’t. While I don’t hate the style, I guess I tend to gravitate  toward a more traditional shoe. With that said, I have found myself practicing more with the B.E.R.B.S. than with my everyday Adidas which I think is a testament to their performance.

Barefoot B.E.R.B.S. comes in three different varieties for men and for women (the version I wore is called the Polar Bear). There is a ton of information about the scientific benefits of barefoot running on their website so if you’re at all interested in the science behind barefoot running and the B.E.R.B.S. I recommend you check it out.

You can learn more about Barefoot BERBS and purchase them on their website.

Glenmuir Apparel Review: Founded in Scotland 1891, Glenmuir remains one of the most prestigious golf brands in the world. So recognized for style and quality, Glenmuir has been worn by the Ryder Cup, the Curtis Cup, and Solheim Cup teams. Most recently, Glenmuir celebrated their 29th year of sponsorship of the PGA Professional Championship. With that build up, Three Guys Golf was kinda jacked to see current batch of Glenmuir apparel.

On the men’s side, we took a look at the Jackson and Ambrose. Both shirts feature ThermoCool™, CoolMax®, Hi-Cool® technology. Sure, most high end shirts have a similar feature but I can tell you this is the real deal. Suffice it to say that the Jackson has instantly become on of my favorite shirts. Since I am a sucker for contrasting piping, the coral with black accents has “you are so money” written all over it. Additionally, the zipper it a nice alternative to buttons without looking cheesy.

Everything about this shirt is quality. Whether it is the stitching, the fit, color or details, the Glenmuir shirt is a winner. Moreover, you can wear it with nearly anything and look sharp. If it seems like I am swooning over this guy, you are correct. I have washed it about 5 times with zero issues and it never needs anything close to an iron to look great.

While the Ambrose is more traditional in style, it is still a very sharp looking shirt. It has just enough details like the stripes and alternate texture to set it way apart from your run of the mill golf shirts. It is not until you wear a high end golf shirt that you realize how much better they look, fit and perform. Plus sizing is correct so if you usually wear a medium, guess what, order a medium (crazy I know).

Now seeing that I do not look very good in a skort, Sue and Susan took care of the ladies side of the Glenmuir review.

Glenmuir Ladies Polo: As reviewed by Sue

The Glenmuir Ladies range also offers a wide variety of clothing. They have one of the best websites for women around, offering a comprehensive range of golf and leisurewear. All of Glenmuir Ladies clothing is inspired by a rich history and heritage and will be fitting for any club or resort. They have combined both classic and contemporary designs and added some bold colors.

Both shirts feature Hi-Cool performance fabrics which keep you dry and comfortable. They are both extremely soft and stretchy, not to mention super cute. The fabric is 79% polyester and 21% cotton, making them easy to care for – just throw them in the wash.

The shirt I wore is the Ladies’ Glenmuir Allegra Hi-Cool Jersey Shirt in lagoon/white.  (“Lagoon” is a very pretty shade of light blue.) It has contrasting white piping and buttons and has the Glenmuir icon at the right hem. The shape of the shirt is very form flattering, and I also really like the long neckline. The collar on this shirt is not too big and and the length of the shirt was just right. I wore this shirt with a pair of white bermuda shorts and it was very sharp, if I may say so myself!

Susan wore the Ladies’ Glenmuir Holly Hi-Cool Jersey Shirt in iris/winter white. The color of this shirt is a soft purple and is really lovely. This shirt is also soft and has a stretch fit, but it has something more. The cut of this shirt is a bit different in that the front and back are just slightly longer than the sides. This gives the shirt a longer look and looks quite nice untucked. The contrast color side panels give this shirt a nice fitted look, while still being stretchy enough to move with your swing.

Glenmuir has a rich history and heritage and I can see why they have designed and supplied shirts and knitwear for twelve European Ryder Cup Teams. The quality of the clothing is outstanding, and I for one am thrilled about the wide selection of women’s golf attire. The Glenmuir Ladies line is fresh and bright and can be worn on and off the golf course. Be sure to check it out at www.glenmuir.com.

Nike Air Range WP II Review: Stickler for rules I am, but I guess that’s what you get after four years in the Navy. So when it comes to my set of clubs I carry no “foot wedge” nor do I have a pocket full of mulligans. However, I fear that while my old school nature has kept me from a rash of bad decisions (like wearing all orange to a PGA event), it has also hindered me from taking advantage of the new golf shoe trends. You see, I have been a traditional golf shoe guy for as long as I can remember.

Not only am I a traditionalist but I am also a cheap SOB which is perhaps my real excuse for not diving into the athletic golf shoe craze. Heck, my golf shoes last forever, so why would I ever need to expand my horizons. In the end, I acquiesced and signed up to test the new Nike Air Range WP II. Not one to rush in, I broke in the Nike Air Range WP around my house for a good 4 hours prior to considering taking them out for real. Slippers, I tell you, these puppies are super light, and other than the fact they have spikes, I would never be able to tell them apart from my running shoes. Ahh, but no one ever hit a driver in their living room (well not without first opening the screen door).

Up at 6am, ugh. Three days ago a 7am tee time sounded great but now with barely 4 hours of sleep, I was rethinking that decision. Yea, it had been a particularly brutal evening, but the job required me to test drive the Nike Air, and like any good soldier, I was not going to shirk my duties.

Since this was my first experience with a running type golf shoe, what struck me most was the feeling of being connected to the ground. I guess I had never really thought about the ground before, but now I almost had the sense that the shoe forced me to consider my stance and sense of balance (or lack thereof in my case).

Unfortunately, it was not only brutally early, it was also wet – apparently I was going to be thoroughly punished for my prior evening sins. Fear not, the Nike Air Range WP II comes with a two year limited waterproof guarantee. If only I could get someone guarantee the pesky yips would not keep sneaking into my game.

You may have noticed that the Nike Air Range WP has a mix of traditional spike shape and more progressive cleats. My guess is that Nike realized that the inner toe and outer heal tend to wear quicker and by putting the larger spikes in these areas the shoes life could be extended. NOTE: all spikes are molded and not replaceable.

After 4 hours 18 holes, 6 Tylenol, 3 chunks and a couple of explicatives, I carded a 92. Not my best round, but considering my head was still a bit fuzzy, I can live with it – plus my feet were dry and cozy. I finally get why it seems like the days of the big traditional golf shoes are numbered. While I am not ready to ditch my 10 year old Bostonians, I am gonna toss my old golf shoes in favor of the Nike Air Range WP II. One note on sizing, Nike runs a bit narrow and small so I would go with a 1/2 size larger. And there you have it, the Nike Air Range WP II is a winner and will run you about $100.

You can see all of the Nike Golf shoes on their website.

You may have noticed the one big, white putter that a lot of guys are using on Tour lately . . . it’s the Taylor Made Ghost Spider putter. It’s big. It’s white. And the one thing that jumped out at me when I first witnessed Beau Hossler and his grillpiece wielding it at the U.S. Open – it’s square.

Next time my clubs will be free!

As a man who was fully immersed in a case of the yips with my 2 more-traditional putters, I was ready to give a mallet putter another shot. And what I found on TV as well as in the store was that the Ghost Spider seemed like a slightly new version of the mallet putter so we figured it was worth a review. And to be clear, the putter head is big by most standards, but not ridiculous or clunky like some misguided efforts made in the past by manufacturers hoping to reduce “twist”. In other words, go to a store and try every mallet putter on the rack – the Spider will not feel bigger than any other model, but somehow it stands out as unique, and sometimes that is all our brain needs to think a flatstick has the answer.

So like any good yips victim, I put the Spider in my bag and have used it for about ten rounds now. I’m not very technical when it comes to putting, so I may not have all the scientific info that you are craving, but I can say that this thing is basically as close to a “point and shoot” putter that I’ve ever tried. I was able to immediately eliminate the true shanks that had haunted my putting game for the last few months . . . it’s just an easy club to take back, swing through, and put a good stroke on. Within the first round I played with the Spider, my foursome was already commenting on what a good roll my putts had.

Aside from not being technical about putting, I was also clearly just a very bad putter for the last few months, so I understand that this could make my opinions decidedly less relevant to some of you out there. Fair enough, and for that reason I’ll point out yet again that this is just one Golf Guy’s opinion:

– The Spider has Taylor Made’s “PureRoll” insert with ridges designed to promote a better roll coming off of the clubface. I am always indifferent to whatever technology companies put in their putter faces, and I generally call BS on that stuff seeing that so many guys on Tour still use good old metal blades and get the job done (oh how I cringe when I see Tiger using that circuit board on a stick). One thing to make note of, however, is that the insert produces a truly unique feel to the putter, definitely different from the Odyssey inserts. It’s nothing crazy or out on the fringe, just different, and to me it feels a bit more energetic and still solid. Any friend of mine that tried the club would immediately notice the different feel of the face on impact . . . it’s hard to describe (mainly because I’m an idiot), but I’m going to try anyway: it’s like it makes no apologies that it is a rubber insert, but somehow you don’t feel like it’s cheesy, it’s just a solid, good feeling strike. And as disgusted as I am with myself for knowing this/benefiting from this, it seems to be super forgiving on mis-hits, because most strikes feel great. I’m sure this is also a testament to the putter head itself, because a mis-hit is seriously hard to produce with this putter.

– Given how the putter performs, the shape and design of the club kind of take a back seat and I don’t really applaud or dislike any one particular aspect. The alignment aid makes sense on paper, but my first thought was that it might be distracting. In practice, I don’t really see much genius to it when I’m standing over the ball, but it’s also not a distraction, it’s almost an afterthought because somehow the whole clubhead lends itself to lining up in the right direction. Plus, I honestly don’t have the bandwidth to try and figure what the heck is going on with that alignment design, it’s like a Picasso drawing to me, so as they say on MTV, “I’m over it”.

If forced to come up with an overall way to differentiate this putter from others, I would say that the Taylor Made Ghost Spider gives me the sense that I’m aiming a path towards the hole that is 2 inches wide, while other putters make me feel like I am aiming a line that was drawn with a pencil. In other words, in my mind, putting with the Spider is like painting with a wider brush, and I honestly have no idea if that’s a positive thing or a negative thing for most golfers. For me, it has worked wonders as I am putting a great roll on the ball and not getting too caught up in the details . . . and draining a lot of putts. Still, I’d be interested to know if someone with a better putting stroke would prefer the more precise vibe of other putters, or maybe they would put the alignment aid to better use than my ADD-addled cranium and make the Spider just as precise.

The bottom line is, if you’re anywhere close to considering a new putter, the Ghost Spider must be on the list of new sticks to try.  Its increased presence on Tour is reason enough, but I think most folks will understand what’s going on once they swing it a few times. Like my one friend who can also appreciate struggling with the flatstick said, “this putter should be illegal”.

You can see all of the Taylormade equipment on their website and other high res images on our Facebook Gallery.

If you own more than a couple of golf shirts, you surely have at least one with patented technology that was developed specifically for the game by a company called Page and Tuttle. As one of the oldest apparel companies in America, Page and Tuttle has been a leader in apparel innovation for over 100 years.

For example, you probably own a shirt that has what almost seems a patch under the arm. While you likely have never given much thought to this patch, it was introduced in the 1950’s by Munsingwear (now Page and Tuttle) and is the reason your shirt allows for more natural movement. This patch, known as a gusset, is just one example of Page and Tuttle ‘s impact on the golf apparel industry. So while the patent on it has long expired, the gusset is now used by manufacturers world wide.

Page and Tuttle also introduced a fabric called “Cool Elite.” It has embedded cooling minerals in its fibers so when you heat up, the fabric can actually cool you down 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s right, it actually cools you down as you play. Not a bad idea if I do say so myself.

While the “Three Guys” received the above sharp looking polos, I received a “Cool Swing” white polo and light blue skort. The polo was cut with a feminine style. The collar had no buttons but there was a reinforced lip where the buttons usually go. It made for a new twist on a classic style that is very appealing, especially if you feel like all your shirts seem to blend into each other. You would think that this collar might not hold up after washing and flop since there are no buttons to stabilize it, but I am happy to report, wash and wear is no problem.

I have no intention on wearing golf clothing that I have to iron after washing so this shirt passes the test. The skort is a blend of polyester, rayon and spandex. There is nothing worse than shorts or skorts that don’t stretch with you when you move about the course and are reading your putts. This skort is on the higher end of comfort and flexibility. It had maximum comfort all the while moving and stretching with me in every situation.

On the men’s side, both polos are made from 100% micro polyester Cool Swing material which is code for “very light, breathable and soft”. Both of these shirts got thumbs up from the guys. Perfect for the humid temperatures of North Carolina and nearly impossible to not match with a pair of shorts (a feature not to be underestimated). In terms of sizing, the Page and Tuttle polos run very fair and with a tradition fit.

Page and Tuttle offers a wide variety of products for both men and women across all season. You can find golfing attire with the latest that the industry has to offer at www.pageandtuttlegolf.com. Page and Tuttle offers everything from classic polos to outwear and windwear featuring their Free Swing technology (yet another innovation developed by the company) to give you every comfort and advantage in your game.

CRU Golf Headcovers: Have you ever gotten one of those gifts that is so beautifully wrapped, you hate to open it? It’s almost like the wrapping is part of the actual gift. And while we may be momentarily inspired to take this same care in our next wrapping exercise, most times we just settle for a gift bag. Unfortunately, many of us too often settle for the “gift bag” when it comes to the headcovers for our golf clubs. Isn’t it time we treat our clubs to a bit of high class gift wrapping?

Cru Golf is a golf headcover company whose product can cover and protect your clubs while looking like your clubs are exquisitely wrapped gifts for you each time you pull one out. These days there are plenty of choices out there for headcovers. Every school mascot and stuffed animal you can dream up can be found to cover your sticks.

However, if you are a bit more mature but tired of the standard headcovers that came with your clubs, there is a better option with Cru Golf. They are 100% leather covers and offer a variety of classic and vintage designs sure to please any golfer. Each cover is carefully crafted by hand by skilled craftsmen. All covers have been designed to ensure a proper fit on all sizes, including 460cc drivers. The interior has moisture wicking so you get the most performance from your clubs in both dry and wet conditions.

Cru Golf offers a variety of designs and colors in their Classic Cru and Reserve Cru collections. I received the Classic Cru in hot pink and white. Considering I am not really known for my “softer, girly side,” I like ordering products in traditional “girly” colors. I figure that if I really like a product despite the color, it has to be good. I must say that I was truly impressed as soon as I opened the box from Cru Golf. First, I got a whiff of that new car smell. You know the one I’m talking about, that fresh scent of new leather that just sends you into a dreamlike state.

Scientists say that our sense of smell is one of our strongest links to memories, and we all have that memory of the new car smell. Then I picked them up. They are striking covers indeed. These are not your typical mass produced, assembly line products. These covers are good, sturdy and of a quality that you rarely find these days.

They are what I imagine my 75 year old father is reminiscing about when he says, “they just don’t make things the way they used to.” If everything I purchased today were made with the quality of Cru Golf, I would have no returns and you would be hard pressed to find a customer that was not satisfied. The leather is a high quality thickness, and the stitching holding it all together is done by a steady hand, making this product a true cut above the rest.

If you have a father in law, brother in law, aunt, etc. that is a golfer, and you need something other than another golf shirt or sleeve of balls as a gift idea, Cru Golf is your answer. Whether you are getting them for yourself or someone else, you can’t go wrong. Cru Golf even offers a wide variety of custom colors and designs. You can add your personal touches right down to the piping color for a custom cover surely to please even the toughest of gift critics. For custom designs, you need to allow 3-4 weeks for your order.

All of the Cru Golf products are made in the USA and range from $37.99-$44.99 or $99 a set, and $63-$69 each for custom covers. For more information and to place your order today, go to www.crugolf.com.

Nike Performance Carry Bag Review: Thanks to a really poor bag selection I made 8 months ago, I am now an expert on want I DON’T want in a golf bag. Now when I walk through the golf section, I’m not nearly as interested in style as I am in functionality. Yup, I am the guy opening pockets, pulling zippers and turning bags upside down to check the base for structure and stability. I guess you could say I’ve broadened my horizons on what to look for in a bag.

Scor 4161 Wedge Review: Everyone knows that a good short game is critical to scoring. Not only can a good short game overcome mediocre driver and iron play, it is really the only way to go low. Unfortunately, I have never really had a great short game in part because I approached it from a defensive standpoint. For example, I have been of the mindset that I can shoot mid to low 80’s by not 3 putting, hitting some greens and not making double bogeys. Good advice I think, but as I have worked toward becoming a single digit handicap player, I knew I would need to become a better wedge player in order to move into the 70’s. So when I went looking for new wedges I poked around and found a newish company called Scor Golf.

When I spoke to Scor Golf founder, Terry Koehler, the first thing I realized is that this guy knows more about wedges than about 99.9% of the world. Morever, Terry is more than willing to share his knowledge with anyone who is interested . . . in fact he writes a really informative blog on wedge play. So after 30 minutes on the phone, I went to the Scor Golf website and filled out my profile. Scor then came up with my optimal set and sent me a 41, 45, 50, 55 and 60 degree wedge. Note: this also meant that I would have to replace my stock PW, gap and sand wedge. The 41 should replace my 9 iron but I am still in the process of getting comfortable with that.

Not to make this post too much about me, but I figure many of you can relate to being a bit terrified of blades and wedges. Prior to taking the wedges to the course I spent about an hour on the chipping green and what I found was that they were very easy to hit and much more forgiving than a traditional wedge. After a bit of practice I was even peppering the pin. Now I am not going to get crazy and tell you I have gotten all Phil Mickleson, but I will tell you that I am now far more aggressive with my wedges such that I am looking to save strokes, not just avoid taking more. Again, with some more practice I now know exactly how far each one will go so I can hit a full shot at 100, 80 and 60 yards. For you strong guys who hit a PW wedge 140 yards, ask yourself how do you manage your game inside of 125 yards. The Scor wedges are meant to bridge that gap. In fact, the name Scor 4161 is in reference to the fact that Scor offers wedges with lofts between 41 and 61  at 1 degree increments. For those of you counting that is 20 different lofts!

For me, I now have much better touch around the green and I even have confidence hitting the dreaded 60 degree wedge out of green side rough. Again I am not going to give all of the credit to Scor wedges but I am at an all time low handicap, 8.4, since putting them in my bag. The fact is I am now shooting in the 70’s on a fairly regular basis which I believe is only possible if you are able to regularly hit greens inside of 125 yards and chip to inside of 7 feet on a consistent basis.

So what makes the Scor wedges different from all of the rest? What Terry explained is that while drivers, irons and putters have changed dramatically over the years, wedges have remained basically the same. With that in mind, Scor developed a wedge with technology to deliver a more accurate and forgiving ball flight. Specifically, the V-Sole not only gives optimal bounce but because of the shape, it also is more forgiving when you dig the club too much or skull it slightly. Again from personal experience, I am now very comfortable hitting a 55 or 60 degree wedge from virtually any lie as I know I do not have to make perfect contact for the ball to come off the club properly.

The other unique feature of the Scor golf club is the progressive weighting system. With most irons, the clubs are all weighted the same. With the Scor Golf irons, each club is weighted differently to match the loft. This way your lob wedges are optimized for spin while 58 to 61 degree wedges are optimized for trajectory and control.

On a side note, one thing I love about wedges is that they are truly an art form. Hand grinded wedges are all the rage and the results can be visually striking, but in the end performance is what matters. This is not to say the Scor wedges are ugly because they too are very good looking. My point is that when comparing high end wedges, technology matters and Scor has it in spades. Plus, Scor Golf puts their money where their mouth is and offers a 30 day money back guarantee. Yup, if you don’t like ’em, just send them back but don’t go looking to get your hands on mine because they are staying in my bag.

You can see more high res images of the Scor 4161 wedges on our Facebook Gallery and learn more about Scor Golf on their website.

I distinctly remember stumbling upon the Kartel booth while wandering through the PGA merchandise show in January and thinking “what the heck does this company sell?” With a name like Kartel any number of thoughts came to mind, so while I was slightly worried about being ushered into some shady dealings, it turns out they just make cool golf gear.

Kartel is an Irish company that has been around since 1985 but is relatively unknown in America. Padraig Harrington, who is  a long time Kartel ambassador, gave many of us our first look at the company but now with the emergence of Graeme McDowell and his seemlingly ever-presence on Sunday in the majors, Kartel is getting much broader exposure. Yup G-Mac, definitely one of the coolest and best dressed cats on tour has a big hand in the brand. So good has this relationship been that Kartel has just released a new G-Mac clothing line.

Because the G-Mac line is brand new we only had the opportunity to review the current Kartel line. Like most apparel companies, Kartel carries a performance line which is well tailored, breathable and sharp looking. However, Kartel also has a line of quality cotton shirts which is not as common. Admittedly I was not too jacked to get a heavy-ish cotton shirt in July since the lows in North Carolina are like 80. Then one evening when inevitably nary a clean shirt was to be found, the Kartel polo was forced into action.

Much like the polos of my childhood, the Kartel polo is striped and heavy but unlike those duds of the 70’s, this one was nicely tailored, very soft and comes with a few nice details like the contrasting colors inside and on back of the collar. While it has remained too humid to wear the Kartel shirt on the golf course, I have now worn it enough times that I felt compelled to sing its praises. There really is something to be said for a solid heavy weave cotton shirt. Sure maybe not in the heat of the summer, but come fall it will be money. As I have written before, I am just getting a bit tired of performance golf shirts so when the weather permits I am going straight up cotton.

Looking forward, I am totally jacked for the new G-Mac gear and we hope to get a review of that line soon, but meanwhile I will continue to be a card carrying member of the Kartel.

You can view the Kartel line on their website and the G-Mac line on this site. 

Ashworth Cardiff Review: Here at Three Guys Golf, we are fortunate enough to get to try out and review lots of golf shoes. Since I primarily walk when I play golf and because I suffered a herniated disc, footwear is super important to me.

I must admit that I was a bit behind the movement to the “street shoes” that do not have traditional spikes. So after my back trouble I was of the opinion that I was going to have to sacrifice traction for comfort since I could no longer wear my old golf shoes without additional back pain. While my back would be happy for me to play in simple running shoes, the fact is that proper grip is not only important for the golf swing but also to simply gain traction while navigating the contours of the course.

When I saw the Ashworth Cardiff golf shoes, they reminded me of some of the other street shoes we have reviewed recently. However, one big difference with the Ashworth Cardiff golf shoes is that they come with a 2-year waterproof guarantee. When you play in the morning with heavy dew or in wet conditions, this is a real advantage. Besides keeping my feet dry, the Ashworth Cardiff shoes are extremely comfortable and well made. Plus, they look really cool. The white square on the heel is one feature in particular that sets them apart in terms of style.

In terms of walking, standing, and hitting balls, these have become my favorite of the shoes I’ve tried so far. You can see from the photos that the Cardiffs look a bit like a low profile ‘boat’ shoe with a ‘white wall’ around the outside of the base. The soft leather uppers are pliable and yet not sloshy or flimsy. Turning over the shoe, there are a couple of nice details. The sole is designed so that the cleats at the very front and the rear of the sole are smaller that the ones more in the ‘middle’ of the sole, such that they keep the ends of the shoe from wearing down as quickly during a ‘normal’ stride where the heel and toe tend to get the most rub on any hard surfaces.

When hitting balls, the Ashworth Cardiff cleats do a great job of grabbing the ground, and they feel very solid when walking down slick, wet embankments. While the nubs are fairly small, there are enough of them to provide ample grip and I never feel like I had any individual spikes putting pressure on my foot– like I do with many traditional shoes.

On the PGA tour you will now find Justin Rose wearing the Ashworth Cardiff golf shoes. Judging from his performance I am pretty sure he is not having any issues with grip, and if he’s like me, his knees and his hips are thanking him at the end of a long day of walking.

If you are still on the fence about moving to a street shoe, the Ashworth Cardiff golf shoes are a great entry point. I think you’ll really be impressed with how comfortable they are, and how much game is under the hood.

The Ashworth Cardiff run about $120. You can see all of the styles on their website.

Nike VR-S Driver: So let’s start with the usual disclaimers.

1) I have been and remain a huge Tiger Fan

2) The only Nike gear I own are two pair of shorts and a few shirts

3) I have never believed that Nike was the real deal in terms of golf clubs

Now that we have that out in the open, I will go ahead and spoil the ending and let you know I love the Nike VR-S Driver. In the past 3 years I have primarily carried a Ping G10 but I have hit a ton of other drivers in a simulator (see my post on the Free Driving Range). It’s not about the money either, no, the reason I never bought another driver is because I never saw any significant distance or accuracy improvements over my Ping G-10. Ironically, I never, not once, ever, hit a Nike driver because I “knew” I would not like it.

So here is the deal. I took the Nike driver to my home club’s driving range where the tee boxes have been set on the lower level such that some people can reach or fly net (but not me). My first drive rolled up to the net. Then the next and the next and the next. Even I did not need a launch monitor to know I hit the ball farther, the proof was in the net. The next day I played my regular course and was farther on nearly every single hole I played. In some cases I was flying traps that I have never flown. Yup, the Nike VR S driver is 15-20 yards longer for me than my Ping G-10 and every other driver I have hit the past 3 or so years (and all of the ones before that too).

Now, maybe it is not fair to compare a Ping G-10 to the Nike VR-S since the Ping is about 3-4 years old but as I stated, I have also hit other newer clubs but never realized much distance improvement. Why then am I a picking up so many yards? From a technology standpoint, the Nike VR S driver is built with the NEXCOR face which is supposed to increase ball speed – okay, sounds reasonable. Additionally, the aerodynamic head and lighter shaft are also part of the equation but I will leave that to the rocket scientists. Just as important, the Nike VR S is extremely forgiving which allows me to swing more aggressively as the misses are far less severe.

As for the looks and sound of the club, I am also a fan. While the white club head is the “new black”, I still dig a standard looking club. The Nike head is a grey metallic color but honesty I would not care if it was green as long as I keep picking up the extra yards. The stock shaft is Fubuki decorated in Raider Nation black and silver. Finally, in terms of sound, Nike drivers (like the old Sasquatch) are often associated with a poor sound. While the VR-S has a bit of a softball batish flavor, I had no issues with it (as a reference, I hate the sound of the old Sasquatch).

Seeing we are in 2012, the Nike VR S driver is adjustable and comes with a 15 page manual in like 14 languages. I read exactly zero pages (heck I don’t read the manual for a gas grill, no way I am reading a driver manual). I also did not tweak the driver even though I know it has 8 adjustable face settings. Since I hit it straight out of the gate so well I figure there is no need to mess with it with it – plus, I am on board with Matt’s assement of the world of adjustable drivers.

My only issue I have is the headcover. Sure it is big and solid, but it just does not fit very well. I actually asked my wife to check it out to make sure I was not doing something wrong. In part, it is the 3/4 sleeve that is the culprit. While it may allow for easier club removal, it also tends to let the driver float around more than I want it to. No biggie for me since the first thing I do with a new club is chunk the headcovers so I can put on my wool or leather headcovers.

Overall, I love the Nike VR S driver. For a guy who is constantly being chided for needing to play the senior tees and has become to accustomed to being the first guy to hit his approach shot, the VR S is a dream come true. The distance I picked up has changed the way I can play a number of holes on my home course and I have been able to use more scoring irons since I am 15 to 20 yards closer to the pin.

So if you have any preconceived notions of Nike golf, put them aside for a moment and give the VR S a try.

You can learn more about the VR S driver on the Nike website.

TaylorMade PureLite 3.0 Stand Bag Review: Believe it or not, there are still golfers out there that like to carry their bag – no pull cart, no llamas, just a good old-fashioned stand bag. For 18 holes, even! I admittedly kissed that world goodbye about two years ago when a buddy let me use his old pull-cart. While I may have lost a bit of my man card on that day, my shoulders rejoiced. To my defense, I am probably only about ten years away from socks-n-sandals, but I know the younger kids wouldn’t be caught dead doing anything but double-strapping their sticks (see: every high school and college golf tournament on the planet). So my point is, there’s still a place in the universe for the good ol’ carry bag, so when it came time to try out the TaylorMade PureLite 3.0, I had no choice but to eat my Wheaties and revisit the on/off world of lugging my clubs. On to the review.

Cleveland Junior Golf Clubs Review: Let’s face it, golf is not the most exciting game to learn. What’s worse is that golf is one of the few games you have to practice for a long time before you are even allowed to play. While I may be content to whack balls at the range all day, the same is not usually true for our short attention-span kids (I wanted to say MTV kids, but I guess that just dates me and is not even a good metaphor anymore). So out of the gate, moms and dads are fighting a battle to engage their kids into the game many of us love.

MyBalls Golf Balls: As I dive into the world of product reviews I’ve been challenged right out the gates with a daunting task, the golf ball review.

In the world of the higher handicap player there are a handful of things we look for in a golf ball. Is it cheap? Is it long? Is it straight? Will it last if by some miracle I get through five holes without losing it? You see we’re not afforded the luxury of needing to know how many cores are inside or how many layers are included. When it comes down to it, it’s a simple decision. Give me something I can hit and let’s go!

I recently got the opportunity to test a relatively new ball on the market and the golfing world and it goes by the name “MyBalls”.

Obviously, the name is a virtual pandora’s box so I have to give the folks at MyBalls some credit for taking a chance as it’s sure to raise some eyebrows.

I headed out this past weekend to a local course that I’ve played a bunch in the past and gave MyBalls a try. A friend joined me and I talked him into giving MyBalls a go as well and off we went.

My first reaction when I opened the sleeve and the ball hit my hand was that the ball seemed really hard. You know that feeling in your fingers when you grab a ProV1 and you can almost feel the outer layer give with some with the pressure of your fingers. Not here. It’s a very solid outer shell-not that this is necessary bad but I do think a 2 piece ball is a bit harder than a 3 piece ball. In any case, we tee’d em up and I hammered my first swing of the day, and so did my partner. They’re long alright, and for the most part fairly straight. That was pretty much how all the tee boxes went for us. I did manage to take a horrible pass at a ball on one box and with a little effort it’s not hard to make these things fly a little crooked. So don’t think by any means it’s a correcting ball, it’s not.

Besides having a genius name, the real difference in these balls is how you buy them. MyBalls have taken out a page from the Columbia House playbook by offering a subscription model (they do have a try before you subscribe option too). You can sign up to have either one or two dozen balls delivered to your house monthly ($25 or $40 respectfully). A perfect model for the golfer who prefers to spend his time losing balls instead of going to the store to buy them.

Clearly I am not losing enough balls-this one is 14 holes old!

In terms of spin and feel, I would be remiss to call MyBalls a Titleist killer, but I thought they checked decently and rolled off of the putter well. My guess would be that MyBalls are marketed to the higher handicapped player who puts a premium on price and distance more than spin.

All in all though I would have to say it’s a great beginner/intermediate ball for sure. They’re long, straight, hold up over the length of the course and are not too badly priced – and they are the only ball that I know of with a monthly delivery schedule.

The above two images are after 14 holes of play, after that I switched to my normal ball that I’ve been playing with for the last five months just to get in a good comparison. While I am stubborn enough to still prefer to lose my $4.00 balls, I do enjoy the constant one liner’s that MyBalls afford. You would think that after 18 holes of golf we would have come up with all the puns you could imagine but no. While we were at the 19^th hole reviewing our round we were still throwing them out there. Like I said, a marketing machine!

You can learn more about MyBalls on their website. See, I did it again. It’s just that easy.