Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid Review

Tested:
Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid
Loft tested (degrees): 19
Shaft: Fujukura Exotics Blur

From Tour Edge:
Designed to tackle the toughest golf challenges: firm hardpan, deep rough, and tight lies. This inspiring club has an easy-to-hit, low center of gravity head, a high density tungsten steel body and sole and a maraging steel cupped face. The heavier tungsten-steel moves more weight low in the sole to help your shots easily escape from difficult lies.

Every area of the XCG5 brims with innovation. The body is slightly shorter from face to back for greater workability. Maraging steel is used in the face over stainless steel because it possesses superior strength without losing malleability. The net result, the club face can be made thinner to launch the ball with less spin and at faster speeds.

The majority of the club’s weight is in the rear heel and toe of the sole guaranteeing exceptional performance. This set up is achieved by the heavy tungsten-steel sole. In addition, two internal weight pads improve sound, feel, and the center of gravity location for a more pure energy transfer at impact. The XCG5’s new aerodynamic lines reflect its ability to effortlessly cut through the air while it’s heavily radiused sole minimizes turf contact for consistent and effective contact.

Pros:
Clean, classically-shaped head.  Dead square face. One of the best sounding clubs we have hit. Workable and fairly forgiving package. Sole design is excellent from all lies.

Cons:
Square face may alienate those looking for more forgiveness. Lack of alignment mark might turn off more. Heavy tungsten sole deter high ball hitters, so choose shaft wisely.

Bottom Line:
A gem in the rough. And tee. And fairway. And even hard packed sand. The Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Hybrid just gets the job done. Heck of a nice surprise.

Look:
Deep black with a nice contrasting maraging steel face. It’s lacking an alignment mark but the head sits so square, I did not find it to be an issue. The head is not compact, but not overly large. If you like traditional-looking hybrids with heads that aren’t the size of a walnut, you’ll be pleased with this for sure. The face seems fairly deep, but the heavier tungsten sole helps get the ball in the air, so that shouldn’t scare you away. Tour Edge says the heavily radiused sole is shaped for consistent contact from a variety of playing conditions.

Performance/Playability:
I found the Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 hybrid to be extremely consistent and plenty long. Although distance is perhaps what Tour Edge is known for, I didn’t find this to be a mad bomber, but that’s not what I’m looking for in a hybrid, either. In general, the hybrid replaces my 3 iron. However, when your need 2 iron distance or 4 iron distance, what club do you pick? For me, it’s my hybrid and this club really surprised me. I could lean on it and pick up extra yards. I could back off, and hit it a club short without hitting a low bullet that couldn’t hold a green. Impressive.

Of course we all don’t hit the ball where we want all the time — no matter what we might say on the internet — so Tour Edge designed the sold to be playable from multiple lies. In practice, I found this to be the club’s most shining attribute. From tee, green, rough, and even hard-packed sand, the Exotics XCG5 performed admirably. The tungsten-weighted sole will really help out in those fairway bunker situations. No overswinging needed. Nicely designed.

Feel:
The first thing I noticed about the Exotics XCG5 was its impact sound. It’s as close to perfect as I’ve heard. If I needed a soundclip of club impact, I’d use this. It’s that cool. Since feel and sound are related, feel is also solid. I suppose you could argue that feel is not as important is a metal wood, but wouldn’t you rather not worry about it?

I didn’t extensively test for mishits, but hit a couple off the toe, and you can recognize them immediately. Distance was more than acceptable considering how poorly I hit the ball, still finding the putting surface.

Bottom Line:
The Exotics XCG5 hybrid was a big surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect, but came away nothing but a positive experience. It’s handsome and very playable in all situations. At a suggested retail price of $199, packs a good amount of technology in a solid, affordable package.

For more discussion, go here: Tour Edge Exotics XCG5 Discussion

GolfWRX editor review-

Pros:
The Titanium face and crown brazed to the stainless steel sole make this hybrid the hottest hybrid we have tested. Long is an understatement. Low spinning cannon!

Cons:
Has a slot on the crown to maximize the launch conditions. Some traditionalists will not like the feature visually.

Bottom line:
Longest hybrid I have ever hit to date. This is in the bag and early predictions I say we have a hybrid of the year here. Long, lower spin, great sound and this tester loves the silver paint and sign me up for the slot on the top that some might not like! Wow!!!

Review:

The first time we pulled this baby out of the box we were a little apprehensive. There is clearly a slot carved out of the top of the head. Very unique look and not what you want to see looking down at a club. However that is about all we will say against this super car. We have our self a super car, super model or super golf club here. This is a unique launch and this GolfWRX editor is drinking all the cool aid and asking for more. I have had it in the bag now for 2 months. We received it early for a review and needed some stick time to make sure it was as good as we noticed in week one. Well it is.

We tested a 17* Adams Speedline Super XTD Hybrid on and off the course. We compared it on flightscope and trackman to verify what we saw on the course. For 17* model the launch was higher than we expected and higher than the normal 17* hybrid. Based on the high launch we expected the carry to be shorter but that was far from the truth. This head produces so much ball speed and lower spin we were hitting the ball close to the distances of our gamer Ping i20 3 wood that are made of steel. While the 17* hybrid was shorter than the Ping i20 15* 3 wood and the Tour Edge 3 wood that is Titanium, is was getting very close to them in distance. Yes we said close. We were only 5 yards less on carry and 14 yards back on total distance from the mighty 3 woods. The Adams XTD Super Hybrid is 2* higher in loft and many inches shorter yet almost went as far as the lower lofted 3 woods. Good knows what the XTD 3 wood will test like in a few weeks. The spin numbers on trackman for me were only 400 rpm’s greater with the 17* XTD than the 15* 3 woods.

When I was hitting balls I could see the ball speed coming off the face hot. You can see it. In play I knew it was going to be long and allowed me to slow the swing down. I was more balanced as a result and hit some great shots. My playing partners were also amazed I was hitting the hybrid as long as they were hitting their 3 woods.

Adams claims they have the highest CT in a hybrid of 240 and has the lowest center of gravity that increases ball speed and lowers spin. There is a “velocity slot” on the top of the crown and the bottom of the sole. These slots increases the spring effect across the entire face for added ball speed and more forgiveness. GolfWRX says WOW. No we are saying WOWOWOWOW. Not that was mature right? Not it wasn’t but there are some products that just make us want to yell out to all of our readers to come on in and try this out!!! This is one of those heads.

The silver paint job looks great. I really liked the flat paint and the new look. Headcover was also designed with care. Has a very functional velcro flap that wraps around the shaft making it easier to take the cover on and off.

What can you not like about this hybrid. Well here is something… $300.00 beans for this hybrid from the local superstore. This is a lot of cash for a hybrid but to get the Ti (Titanium) technology that always will cost you more.

As the spring and summer of 2012 rolls out we are excited to hear and see some comparison data from any and all against this mighty Hybrid. Early call is the hybrid of the year.

Click here to see more information and discussion in the forums

Also you can watch this great technical video GolfWRX did with Adams golf about the XTD Hybrid and 3 wood…

Here are some photos…

Review:

Just a few things about myself before I get into the review. I am a golf enthusiasts, as many guys are here on WRX. I have been golfing for about six years now (former baseball player) and take it serious, but always enjoy my time on the course. I carry a handicap index of 8. Some strengths of my game are wedge play and iron play.Woods and hybrids had generally given me trouble until I stumbled upon the i15hybrid.

Club Tested: PING i20 Hybrid 20*

• Pros

The glare free matte black finish is the first thing I noticed when opening the box. Matched with the Project X black shaft, the “stealth” black look is very nice. Small/compact head. Great sound and feel at impact. It is very similar to the i15 and doesn’t take much adjustment getting used to.

Click here to see more photos and read discussion in the forums

• Cons

Some might think it is a players club being part of the i series, but one will quickly realize it is for mid and low handicappers not just the best golfers. It truly is difficult to come up with cons for this club. Just a few swings in I knew PING had another winner.

• Bottom Line

PING has done it again. I for one LOVE(D) the i15 hybrid (still have in my bag). The i20 hybrid is right there if not longer than the i15. The look is unique and eye catching, and the matte black finish is great during sunny days.The club offers great forgiveness with workability. The ball flight produced is a nice mid to mid/high couldn’t ask for anything more. Try it and you will want to buy it!

Editor/Tester Review:

• Look (5 stars)

The i20 hybrid’s matte finish (on crown) and black face aren’t just another all black club. Unlike the Titleist910 line, the i20 hybrid is a matte finish which eliminates glare which as many of you know can be quite distracting when standing over a shot on a bright sunny day (can be seen in my pictures). The overall look of the black finish is very cool and functional, hats off to PING on this one. I can’t speak on the durability of the finish as I have only hit a few balls on the range/course,but I hope to update the review over time with feedback on how the club wears.

As for the overall shape and style of the club, it has a similar shape and lines to the i15. I hope my pictures captured this, but the head is noticeably smaller and more compact looking than the i15 however. I for one have been very pleased with the i15 hybrid, but hands down the look of thei20 is way better. A lot of this has to do with personal preference, but I think the i20′s finish has gotten a lot of applause here on the boards.

Click here to see more photos and read discussion in the forums

• Performance/playability (4 Stars)

Just a few swings into testing put a huge smile on my face. One swing, a perfect mid height shot that just seemed to carry, perfect launch and come down softly. The dispersion from left to right seemed to be very tight. I am no tone to usually work the ball with my hybrid. I would generally use it off the tee on short par 4′s, as a second shot on par 5′s or off the tee a long Par3. Working the ball left or right with the i20 is no problem. I haven’t had enough on course testing with it to give feedback on performance out of the rough just yet, but off the tee for me it was longer than my currently i15 set up and off the deck it was longer as well(hit a par 5 in two day that I generally need a fairway wood to reach). One thing I noticed was a nice launching angle, the ball seemed to climb nicely to its peak after launch and come down softly enabling the user to hold greens on long par 3′s and par 5′s etc. In limited use thus far I am very pleased with the performance. They took a great performing club in the i15 and made it even better. Also had a few instances when hitting the club out of the rough and this is where it truly shined. It’s pretty much point and shoot with this thing.

• Feel (4 Stars)

The feel is wonderful, again similar the i15, yet sweeter for lack of a better term. The sound for those of you that have hit the driver is muted, which for some may be music to their ears. Even mishits, one that I had in particular was out near the toe, the ball still flew fairly straight, lost some height, but still felt great. The shaft seems to be super smooth, gives good kick, and overall the club feels like a good weight. I was expecting a club a little lighter, but I am very happy with the overall weight of the club. Again I haven’t hit enough balls with it to experience more and/or worse mishits, but the few that I did experience still turned out okay and felt fine. The club offers a nice solid feel at through impact, no harsh vibrations or stinging in the hands. As far as sound and feel a golfer can’t really ask for more in this department.

• Overall bottom line (4.5/5 Stars)

As I mentioned before, PING has another winner on their hands here. The i20 is without a doubt an improvement over the i15, and I thought it was going to be hard to outdo their last offering. PING has proven me wrong once again. They did a great job in taking a great club and making it even better. The size/shape/look are all very pleasing to the eye. The finish is very functional for golfers in sunny locations. The stock Project X black shaft is a GREAT stock offering as well, can’t beat it as far as stock shafts go. The i20 hybrid performs and it performs well. I will be putting my i15 and the i20 head to head against one another. I have a free spot in my bag so I can always carry both! I highly recommend this club to those who liked the i15 or currently use the i15 and are looking for something new. I also recommend this club to players seeking a good mixture of forgiveness and workability in a classical compact style hybrid head. You can’t go wrong with the i20.

Click here to see more photos and read discussion in the forums

On to the pictures (comparison shots are with an i15 20* hybrid):

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When looking to improve on the i15 hybrids, it turned out that player feedback was overwhelmingly less than helpful as many responded that they wouldn’t want anything to change! Fortunately, PING’s engineers are able to rely on their own experiences as well to make clubs that can better meet players’ needs.

As with the other i20 clubs, the i20 hybrid is geared toward better golfers. PING reduced the profile both head to toe as well as front to back to create a more compact head. They also squared the leading edge a bit more, reducing the rounded appearance so that it’s easier to get a sense of where you’re aiming the clubhead.

With the reduced head size, PING moved the center of gravity down and forward to make for a more piercing trajectory and slightly lower spin, giving better players more control over ball flight. The smaller face and profile makes it more versatile from different lies and easier to get the club through deeper rough.

As has been the theme for the rest of the woods, the i20 hybrid sees reduced MOI around the shaft axis–a whopping 48% reduction over the i15. Again, in conjunction with the neutral weighting, this makes it easier to rotate the face to square or manipulate the face to work the ball either way.

The i20 hybrids will be available in 17º, 20º, and 23º lofts, both lefty and righty. Stock shafts include the new proprietary TFC 707F (R, S, and X flexes) and Project X Black (5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 flexes). The Project X option is targeted towards players looking for a lighter shaft that will provide a bit more spin and kick than the TFC. And both shafts look great with the matte black on black finish.

Per Ping Press Release:

i20™ Hybrids
For launching the ball high and landing it softly on the green, the i20’s compact head and low- deep CG are perfectly suited for the job. Forgiveness across the clubface allows golfers to swing confidently from heavy rough or tight lies with accurate results. More surface area low on the clubface ensures forgiveness to optimize launch conditions. The straight leading edge and slim, contoured head make aiming easy. A non-glare, matte-black finish eliminates distractions to help with aim and focus. Players can choose from two stock shafts: the PING TFC (Tip, Flex, Control) 707H for a low-spin, boring trajectory, or the lighter Project X Black by True Temper, offering mid spin and a higher trajectory.

-Hybrids available: 17º, 20º & 23º
-Stock graphite shafts: TFC 707H (R, S and X flexes) and Project X Black (5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 flexes)
-U.S. MSRP: $210

The hybrid looks good to me — very good, actually. Looks like it won’t go left. But I have to be honest with you — I suck at hybrid. Always have. So I’m not going to blow any smoke up yer skirt by saying I hit it and it changed me. Ben was carrying it 250+ yards super high, but he has mad skills compared to me & my 5 hdcp. Most people play hybrids very successfully — I’m not one of them. My bad.

review coming soon

Longer from any lie, the new Cleveland Golf Mashie hybrid is engineered for distance and versatility. Enhanced Gliderail technology measurably decreases turf drag for more lift and speed and impact, meaning more distance and accuracy from any lie – rough, sand, tee or fairway. Ultralite technology reduces total club weight by over 20 grams for increased head speed and distance with the same swing effort. A premium Miyazaki C. Kua 59 graphite shaft, engineered specifically for hybrids, maximizes swing speed while maintaining incredible accuracy. Also included is a RetroSock headcover, which includes the regal Mashie seal and a stylish black-and-white pom-pon.

Click here to read the discussion in the forums

GLIDERAIL SOLE DESIGN
PRONOUNCED dual-rail design with subtle center keel.Improved playability and extreme versatility, making the Mashie longer from any lie.

RETRO-RAW FINISH
A precise tumble process produces this unique throw-back crown cosmetic.Designed to provide a rugged, bulletproof look that encourages versatile play.

MASHIE ULTRALITE TECHNOLOGY
Dramatically lighter Miyazaki C. Kua 59 Series premium hybrid shaft.Decreased club weight and increased length produce effortless distance™ gains (5-10 yards) through higher head speed (up to 3mph).

Click here to read the discussion in the forums

Well, guys, I decided to go and try one of these Titleist 910h hybrids this past weekend. Went to the local shop and grabbed a demo 19* with the stock titleist ahina stiff. Took it to the course for 3 rounds this weekend. Here are my thoughts.

First, a little about me. I am a strong player, hovering around a 3 handicap at the moment. I’ll get up around an 8 hdcp in the fall and late summer, but my game is starting to come back into shape right now. I am a strong iron player, and am very good greenside. My putting is really coming around in the past year or so, as well. My main weakness is driving, though that seems to be improving, and my long approach game (long par 3s, attacking par 5s).

I am a HORRIBLE hybrid player. I am a digger by nature, and rely heavily on proper turf interaction with all of the clubs in my bag except the driver (which SHOULDN’T be interacting with the turf). I play all of my irons 1-2* upright, and I believe the upright lie angle is the real obstacle to me playing hybrids properly. They are all too flat, and all seem to twist in my hand when I impact the turf. The results have always been squirt draws that start way right and finish a little less way right, with unpredictable distances. Completely unplayable shot pattern for me, so I play 2 irons and knock down 3 woods from 205 and out, which frankly is not conducive to great long-game scoring.

Until now…..

The Club: 19* Titleist 910 h with Stock “Made for Titleist” Ahina (stiff).

Looks: The 910h is a very sharp looking club at address and in the bag. The all black finish hides the size, which appears to be a little bulkier than most of the players hybrids on the market, and significantly larger than the more recent Adams players hybrids that have come to market. Almost a slim, pear shaped profile at address. Fairway wood users will feel immediately comfortable. Those who prefer smaller hybrids may need some time to adjust. I personally found the size and the shape to be very appealing.

Performance: In a word, astounding. The adjustable technology was a huge plus for me in that it gave me the ability to adjust the lie angle. I cranked the lie angle of the demo club up the full 1.5* with the standard loft angle, and let her rip. Let me just say that I simply could not miss the center of the club face. Shot after shot after shot was hit dead on the screws right where I was aiming. I guess this is what people mean when they say hybrids are easy to hit! The lie angle was absolutely perfect, giving me none of the twisting and bouncing to which I have grown accustomed from most hybrids. For the most part, I took little or no turf, when I did, I was rewarded with a gentle divot, a little higher ball flight, and otherwise the same shot shape and distance. Did I mention that it was long? With the 19, I was getting 225-230 yards all day long. Any miss was just a very slight pull draw. We’re talking edge of the green type stuff from 220+ yards away. With my history with hybrids, I kept waiting for this thing to rear its ugly head, but it simply never did so. After 15-20 swings on course, I was absolutely sold on this thing.

As for the shaft, let me say that I had some reservations about the “made for” Ahina stiff. I have played the titleist “made for” offerings in the past, and had no doubt it would be a quality shaft. I have the extra stiff version in my 910D3 driver, and am getting along beautifully with it. My concern, really, was whether the stiff would stand up to my swing. I play x-stiff in every club in the bag, including the irons and wedges, and rarely find stiff flexes playable due to spin issues. This is particularly true in the hybrids, woods, and drivers, but there were no extra stiff demo shafts available, so I went with it. The shaft is solid as a rock! I’d like to try an extra stiff, but can play the stiff flex all day long. I was so impressed with the ahina hybrid shaft, in fact, that I went back to the shop after my morning round and took out a demo 910fd/ahina stiff and a stiff driver shaft, thinking perhaps that my driver and 3 wood play might also benefit from the stiff flex versions of this shaft. Sadly, those shafts were unplayable for me, but the hybrid is straight money – very playable, very user friendly.

Let me conclude by saying that I went to the shop that evening and purchased a 17* 910h/Ahina to replace my fw from the fairway, and have since purchased a matching 21* for long par 3s. I played the 17* on Sunday, with the lie cranked all the way upright, and the loft cranked as low as it would go (16.25* I believe) in an effort to turn it into a long hitting, par five killing, machine. I was every bit as impressed with it as I was the 19*. I rarely attack par 5s from anything over 215, as I simply do not have the fire power in the irons, nor the confidence in my previous hybrids and fw from the turf. I got off a nice drive on the first par five, and left myself 248 to a back pin placement. I hit two shots at it with the 17*, both carried onto the back of the green and finished behind the green with relatively simple eagle chips. Both shots had identical high trajectories with a tight little baby draw. Both were caught dead on the screws and covered in excess of 250 yards start to finish. I am fairly confident in saying that both shots were longer than any 3 wood I have ever hit off the deck. I am very anxious to try the 21* on some of the long, 200+ yard par 3s on my home course. If it is as user friendly as the 17 and 19, I can see picking up a stroke or two a round with these clubs due to the inevitable improvement of my long game. I’ll definitely keep you all posted.

As for the old classics, let me just say that I put a set of MP14s in the bag this weekend. I have been playing relatively well with my irons (Scratch SB-1s), but have been having some hand and elbow problems that I attribute to the KBS x shafts. I picked up a set of MP14s with dgx100s as an inexpensive experiment, and was absolutely blown away. I have never been able to use mizuno irons due to my digging tendencies, but these were fantastic through the turf. The feel was better than any iron I have played previously, and the traditional lofts gave such a great high, penetrating trajectory through the entire bag. I am absolutely smitten with these things, and can definitely see why they are considered classics by the blade using community.

Pros: The shallow design of the G25 fairway woods makes them easy to hit off the fairway and the tee, and the look of the G25 hybrid is much improved over the driving iron-like G20.

Cons: They’re not adjustable, and might be too high spinning for golfers with a lot of clubhead speed.

The Bottom Line: The matte black finish and traditional shaping make the G25 fairway woods and hybrids are as good looking as any others. They’re also performers — the combination of a low, rearward CG and high MOI makes the G25 fairway woods some of the most forgiving available. The hybrids are winners as well, with progressive CG positions that creep forward to keep the higher-lofted hybrids from ballooning.

Overview

The G25 fairway woods have a higher launch, higher ball speed and more forgiveness than the G20. These changes were possible through the removal of weight from the perimeter of the faces. That not only made the club faces hotter and more forgiving, it allowed weight to be moved lower and deeper in the head. That created a higher launch and more forgiveness, particularly on shots hit low on the face.

Above: The matte black finish of Ping new G25 fairway wood (left), compared to the gloss finish of last year’s G20 (right).

The G25 fairway woods are available in 3 (15 degrees), 4 (16.5 degrees), 5 (18 degrees) and 7 (21 degrees) with Ping’s TFC 189F stock shaft. It comes in Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff and Tour X-Stiff flexes), and costs around $229.

Each of the new G25 hybrids, which are available is 17, 20, 23, 27 and 31 degrees, has a center of gravity that helps to create the ideal ball flight. In the low-lofted hybrids, the CG is positioned low and deep to help golfers launch the ball higher and with more spin than their iron equivalents, resulting in more playability and a greater carry distances.

But Ping’s higher-lofted hybrids (23 degrees or more) had a tendency to spin too much for most players in the past, leading to shorter carry distances and less control in windy conditions. That’s why the CG of the 23, 27 and 30-degree hybrids creep forward to help golfers reduce spin.

The G25 hybrids also feature a generous amount of camber and sole relief for playability from different surfaces. They’re available with Ping’s TFC 189H stock shaft in Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff and Tour X-Stiff flexes, and cost around $199.

Performance

Like Callaway’s X Hot fairway woods, the G25 fairway woods are extremely versatile from the fairway and light rough because of their shallow-face design. But the G25′s are higher launching, thanks to their lower, deeper CG position. They’re also more forgiving thanks to their higher MOI, which leads to extremely straight shots even on mishits.

Above: The shallow faces of the G25 (bottom) and G20 (top) fairway woods, which improves playability off the ground. 

The higher launch and spin won’t be for everyone, but it will be the golden ticket for slower swing speed golfers who struggle with center contact and carry distance.

The G25 fairway woods made our list of Best Fairway Woods in 2013. Click here to see the other fairway woods that made the list.

The sole design of the G25 hybrids makes them playable from just about anywhere. My 20-degree G25 hybrid had a much higher ball flight than my 3 iron, which it replaces. But it was not so high that it negatively affected distance or was troublesome in the wind. I was pleased to find that the hybrid had 10 percent more carry distance than my 3 iron, and it was also more forgiving and much more playable out of the rough.

Looks and Feel

Golfers who like the G25 driver will like the G25 fairway woods, because they have a very similar look and feel at address. The matte black finish is easy to get used to and a welcome change from the glossy club heads that had become standard in the industry.

The thinner face of the G25 fairway woods provides more of the trademark Ping “crisp” sound that company has become known for, and the understated look of the stock shaft and grip are a nice match to the G25′s all-business appearance

Above: The G25 hybrid (left) has a much more traditional shape than the G20 hybrid (right), which looked more like a driving iron. 

I can’t say enough about how good the G25 hybrids look at address. The minimal offset and hybrid shape seem just right, and Ping players will enjoy the seamless transition from a G25 fairway wood to presumably one of Ping’s forgiving iron sets.

The Takeaway

With the G25 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping looks to have found a way to add forgiveness to the hardest-to-hit clubs in the bag.

Many other manufacturers have struggled to provide game-improvement woods and hybrids that can transcend the power and feel needed off the tee, as well as from the fairway and deep rough. That should provide confidence for even low handicap players to really get into the new G25’s across the board.

Including the G25, Ping currently offers three different fairway wood and hybrid lineups (G25, Anser, i20) for the most demanding of player preferences and yardage gaps. The mid-level cost of the G25 will appeal to most high-handicap to mid-handicap players who want the latest in all-around performance without breaking the bank. But with a proper fitting that identifies the right shaft, the G25 fairway woods and hybrids can work for golfers of any ability level.

Clubs reviewed by GolfWRX Contributor Roger Genise

Pros: The Super S and LS hybrid offer two different looks at address — rounded (S) and narrow (LS). Both clubs are very long, launch the ball high in the air and are capable of producing a knockdown shot when needed. Each is available in six lofts, providing a gamut of options for the consumer.

Cons: They’re not adjustable. The titanium-constructed LS hybrids are longer than the Super S hybrids, but they’re not as forgiving.

The Bottom Line: These S and LS hybrids vary quite a bit, giving golfers two distinct hybrid options. Both are excellent clubs and worth an investigation; my suggestion is to hit the heck out of them until you determine which you prefer.

Overview

The feature most associated with Adams fairway and hybrid clubs are the slots on the crown and sole of the clubs. Those slots are deeper and thinner in the Super S and LS hybrids than in previous models, which Adams says creates less deflection (meaning less side spin) and an increased launch angle (meaning more height, quicker.)

The slots also increase the characteristic time of the clubs, or “spring-like” effect, which is the measurement of the amount of time a golf ball stays on a club face. The CT of the stainless-steel-constructed Super S hybrid is 230 microseconds, while the LS, which has a titanium face and crown, has an insane CT of 250 — 7 microseconds less than the USGA’s limit of 257.

The LS comes with a Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage 80-gram shaft that’s more robust than the S’s Matrix Kujoh 75 shaft. The LS offers three flex options (R, S and XS) while the S clubs provide a fourth option, more flexible than the R: the A. Both lines offer a range of six lofts: 15, 17, 19, 22, 25 and 28, but the LS hybrids measure out 0.5 inches longer. The LS is also 0.5 degrees more upright, but only in the 15- and 17-degree lofts.

Each Super S hybrid lists at $130 on the Adams site, while the LS series has a suggested retail value of $230 per club.

Performance

By adjusting ball position at address (forward, center and back), a golfer can control trajectory with surprising ease. Mishits are more noticeable (and unfortunate) with the LS versus the S, but that makes sense, since the LS comes with heavier, stiffer shafts that will work better for more skilled players who hit the sweet spot more often.

The S line of hybrids was quite forgiving on mishits — they don’t go as far as squarely-connected shots with the LS hybrids, but they don’t slide left or right with abandon, either.

Both of these hybrids will do a fine job of replacing long irons in the set, and offer the combined perquisites of those irons and fairway metals: properly struck shots launch quickly, with the penetrating flight of the long iron, yet peak then land softly as happens with a well-hit fairway metal.

Golfers swap out long irons for hybrids when they lose confidence in the blades. The hybrid serves to cut through moderate rough better than a long iron, with less heel grab and face twisting. The increased mass allows the hybrid to push past blades of grass that might snag an iron head.

Golfers who want more distance should look to the LS line. Those seeking more forgiveness, or looking to save a few bucks should lean toward the S.

Looks and Feel

The Super S has a more rounded, pear-shaped look, which will give golfers the feeling that they are hitting a “mini fairway wood,” and will appeal to the eye of golfers who have played multiple fairway metals with success. In fact, at first glance, golfers often mistake the S line heads for fairway metals. The LS has a thinner, sleeker look that will appeal to golfers who grudgingly gave up their long irons.

A slight color difference is also apparent. The LS line continues the theme of white and gray in both wording and geometry; the S line outlines “Super” on the back of the crown in red. As you might guess, the red piping of the S series certainly stands out more than the light grays of the LS.

Both clubs report unmistakable feedback on a mishit. Likewise, the sensation of a shot caught squarely is pleasant beyond words. A solid “thwock” emanates from each proper strike. No pings, zings or angelic harp sounds to disrupt the audio-kinesthetic connection.

The Takeaway

Adams golf established quite a hybrid presence on golf’s professional tours before it was acquired by TaylorMade-Adidas. Since the acquisition, Adams has continued to distinguish itself with its hybrid production.

Since its founding by Barney Adams, the company has gone to lengths to produce a quality club and the S and LS hybrids continue that tradition. You should grab a hold of an Adams hybrid the next time you go shopping; if it fits your eye, take it out for a rip or two. They’re quality clubs that you might find to be a lot better for you than the long irons in your bag.

There’s a lot fewer long irons played on the PGA Tour these days than in years past. That’s because the pros have realized that some of the long irons they used to play aren’t as consistent as similar-lofted hybrids, which they can also hit higher and farther. Unfortunately, many amatuer golfers haven’t caught on with the trend, and are still using long irons with outdated constructions that make the game more difficult.

We hope that you’ll tell them that the technology in today’s hybrids makes them longer, straighter and better looking than in years past. They also can help fill important distance gaps between a golfer’s fairway woods and long irons. Click here to read GolfWRX Featured Writer Rich Hunt’s story, “The importance of bag setup: Long irons or hybrids.”

We’ve listed our picks for the best hybrids of 2013 below, which for the first time includes several adjustable models that have a lot more “bling” than we’re used to seeing at address.

Click here to read the specifics on the voting committee and how we picked the best.

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Winners

Adams Super LS
Callaway X Hot
Cobra AMP Cell
Ping Anser
Taylormade RBZ Stage 2
Titleist 913H

Adams Super LS

Adams’ Super LS hybrids have titanium faces and crowns to lower their center of gravity, adding forgiveness and playability. They also have Adams’ VST Technology, slots in the sole and crown to give the clubs an insane characteristic time of 250, seven microseconds less than the USGA’s limit.

Those two features together give the Super LS extremely high ball speeds and low-spin launch conditions, making them one of the longest-flying models for mid-to-high-speed golfers. The one deterrent is cost; they’re selling for about $230 at most retailers.

Read Our Full Review

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Callaway X Hot and X Hot Pro

The Callaway X Hot and X Hot Pro hybrids have a redesigned Callaway Warbird sole that makes them one of the best with dealing with tough lies. Their thin 17-4 stainless steel cup faces also provides tremendous ball speeds and forgiveness, while the matte gray finish and black PVD faces offer a pleasing look at address.

Both the X Hot, which has a larger, more forgiving head design to provide a higher launch and more spin, as well as the X Hot Pro, which has a smaller, less forgiving head design that creates a more penetrating ball flight, received top marks for our panel. Even better news is their current price, which thanks to the end-of-the-season price wars has been lowered from $179 to $129.

Read Our Full Story

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Cobra AMP Cell

Don’t be fooled by the four color options. Cobra’s AMP Cell hybrids are more than just a fashion statement; they’re one of the easiest to hit hybrids on the market for golfers with slower swing speeds, and have an unrivaled 4-degree range of adjustability.

They come in three different head options: 2-3H (adjustable from 16 to 19 degrees), 3-4H (adjustable from 19 to 22 degrees) and 5-6H (adjustable from 22 to 25 degrees). Along with the four lofts, each head has two “draw” options in the middle lofts, which make the club more upright at address. Like the X Hot hybrids, they’re selling for $129 (about $60 cheaper than their original price).

Read Our Full Story

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Ping Anser

The Ping Anser hybrids have been around for more than a year, but they continue to be the best model on the market for many golfers. It hasn’t hurt that Brandt Snedeker used a 20-degree Anser hybrid to win the 2011 PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs, and that Phil Mickelson won this year’s British Open with a 17-degree Anser.

The Anser’s success is based on its balanced design. The lower-lofted hybrids have a low, deep CG to help golfers hit the ball higher, while the higher-lofted hybrids have a more forward CG to help prevent ballooning. Its matte black-painted crown was also a favorite of our testers, as was its solid, traditional feel.

Read Our Full Story

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TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2

Low and forward. That’s TaylorMade’s mantra for more distance, which means that the RBZ Stage 2 and Stage 2 Tour hybrids have a lower, more forward CG than their predecessors.

Like Callaway’s X Hot and X Hot Pro hybrids, the Stage 2 models target different types of golfers. The Stage 2 is slightly larger and higher spinning to help golfers with slower swing speeds hit the ball higher. The Stage 2 Tour offers a flatter trajectory, but its 3-degree adjustable hosel gives golfers to ability to tweak ball flight to their preference.

Both models use TaylorMade’s “RocketSteel” faces, which along with the company’s improved “Speed Pocket” (the slot in the sole) creates more ball speed on shots hit across the face.

Read Our Full Story

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Titleist 913H and 913H.d

Titleist’s 913H and 913H.d give golfers the total package when it comes to hybrid design. The 913H has a slightly larger head with a more rearward center of gravity that produces slightly more spin and forgiveness than the 913H.d, which has a smaller head and a more forward CG to increase workability and offer a more penetrating flight.

Both models include Titleist’s SureFit Hosel, which offers 16 different loft, lie and face angle combinations, and come with two of the company’s interchangeable sole weights to allow golfers to tune swing weight. Our testers like the 913H and 913H.d’s traditional look and feel, as well as the premium stock shaft options: Mitsubishi’s Diamana S+ 72, D+ 82 and Aldila’s RIP Phenom 80. They retail for $229.

Read Our Full Story

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Click here to see the “Best of” winners for other club categories.

Pros: The SLDR fairway woods and hybrids offer a low-spinning trajectory in a clean and refreshingly understated package. The next generation of “speed slot” technology is marginally better, and the “real deal” TP shaft options are big selling point for better players.

Cons: These are not the most forgiving options available, even within their better-player categories. The SLDR moniker is also potentially misleading, as moveable weight technology isn’t a feature on this generation.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for versatile, low-spin fairway woods or hybrids, SLDR should be at the top of your list to try. They’re fantastic off the tee, and their compact shapes make them very good from the fairway and rough, provided you have the swing speed and talent.

Overview 

TaylorMade’s SLDR fairway woods and hybrids use the company’s much touted low, forward center of gravity (CG) and the company’s Speed Pocket, a polymer-filled slot cut all the way through the head. The clubs carriy the same SLDR name as the driver, but unlike the bigger dog, this smaller sibling has no sliding anything, which if nothing else is confusing to the consumer.

Gone (for now) is the distinctive white paint of the R11 and RBZ lines, and in its place is a charcoal crown juxtaposed with a silver face. The slot technology is improved both in terms of aesthetics and performance. The Speed Slot, though smaller than it was in the RocketBallz and RBZ Stage 2 models, offers increased ball speed across a larger area of the club face. More ball speed means more distance, and the polymer filling means less to clean up after, which is a welcome change.

Both standard and TP model fairway woods and hybrids have a 3-degree range of adjustability (1.5 degrees up or down from standard in 0.5-degree increments). The fairway woods come in lofts of 14, 15, 17, 19 and 21 degrees. The base models ($249) are equipped with a Fujikura 77 shaft (R, S and X flexes), while the TP models ($349) has a Fujikura 8.3 Tour Spec shaft. Both are available in R, S and X flexes.

The hybrids are offered in lofts of 17, 19, 21 and 24 degrees. The base model hybrids ($219) comes with a Fujikura Speeder 82 shaft (R,S, and X flexes), while the TP model ($289) has a beefier Fujikura Motore Speeder 9.3 shaft (S and X flexes).

Performance

In testing, the SLDR fairway woods and hybrids launched slightly higher than previous models with lower comparative spin. The result was a longer carry and more total distance. Distance gains were largely a function of reduced spin, and with a slightly higher initial launch angle, the ball stayed in the air longer.

In adjusting the loft, both up and down, ball flight changed as expected. Many players will likely find they can go up in loft at least 1 degree without losing any distance. I found that a 1-degree increase in loft actually allowed me to hit the ball higher without losing any distance. This is particularly helpful when trying to reach a par 5 in two or hold a firm green on longer par-3 holes.  In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to find players going up in loft and actually gaining distance.

The club wasn’t noticeably straighter than other models, but it wasn’t any more crooked either. I had no problem working the ball up, down, right and left, but I had to make a more conscious effort to hit a sweeping draw or big slice. That said, players who like to work the ball either direction might actually find it a bit more difficult to do so given the reduced spin.

With a more forward CG, one would think that the clubs would be less forgiving on shots hit on the heel or toe. My suspicions proved correct, as heel misses were punished fairly significantly and toe misses weren’t a lot better. Shots off the heel just never elevated and toe hits generally came out low and “hooky.” This is definitely a club for the player who can find the center of the club face routinely.

Perhaps the most redeeming quality of this club is its unyielding versatility. The relatively shallow face of the fairway woods makes them a monster off the fairway and tight lies. However, given the launch and spin characteristics (especially with the Fujikura TS 8.3 in the TP model), there is no ballooning on the tee ball. The hybrids are an equal opportunity performer. They’re like hitting mini fairway woods off the tee, and they elevate very easily off the deck. Playing from the rough is just as fun, but I had to be a bit careful as the ball generally came out hot and a bit lower that I expected.

Above: Both the SLDR fairway woods (top) and hybrids have relatively shallow faces to give the club more playability from the fairway and rough. 

It’s important to keep in mind that performance is always a function of the player swinging the club. Clubs with a low, forward CG and low-spin launch conditions are going to perform best for players who tend to have a pretty active and late release. If you have an early release and moderate-to-little wrist hinge, you should probably look elsewhere. And if you do go with an SLDR product, don’t expect to see significant performance gains.

If you’re a medium tempo, mid launch, early-to-mid release player, the stock shaft offering will likely suit you well. For me, I found it to be loose and spinny. If you swing more than 100 mph, have a mid-to-late release and like your fairway woods to have an 80-gram or heavier shaft, the Tour Spec 8.3 will be phenomenal. I’m sure some will balk at the $349 price tag on the TP model, but when you consider the aftermarket cost of the Fujikura Tour Spec 8.3 shaft is around $350, it’s almost like getting the head for free.

Looks and Feel

The SLDR fairway woods have a nice small footprint and traditional pear shape. The hybrids are more wood-like in appearance than some others, but they certainly don’t appear bulky or cumbersome.

Above: A SLDR fairway wood (top) and SLDR hybrid at address. 

The charcoal grey head with silver face produces a nice contrast at address and honestly, I think the return to a bit less caffeinated color scheme is a solid move. Anything that conjures up reminders of the legendary 200 Steel and hallowed V-Steel will certainly attract buyers.

The “chrome button back” and crown graphics were added to help golfers with their alignment, TaylorMade says. But I think their main purpose is to “pop” on the television screen and ensure golfers know that they’re buying a 2013-2014 fairway wood that will never be confused with the charcoal-colored Titleist models. Moreover, the TaylorMade enthusiast who bagged the RBZ and/or RBZ Stage 2 for purely performance reasons will love the SLDR, where they can get all of the performance (and then some) in a bit more traditional package.

That said, the graphics and “button back” were more distracting to me than anything else. If the entire scheme were louder, it might not appear as awkward. I’m honestly not certain if the chrome portion is trying to get me to line up the ball in the center of the face or if it is trying to get me to take an inside path towards the ball. Either way, it’s a minor blemish in what is otherwise a very refined and well-proportioned package. A large serving of classic with of a side dish of “techy.”

The stock Fujikura Speeder 77 shaft, a “made-for” model, is decent, but it’s nothing to write home about. It will likely fit a majority of consumers and is on par with other stock shaft offerings from other OEMs. On the other hand, the Fujikura Motore Speeder Tour Spec 8.3 (9.3 in the hybrid) that comes in the TP models is reason enough to buy the entire club. It is tight, explosive and smooth like a marble rolling down a greased stimp meter.

In so many cases, sound is feel and the SLDR is like an anvil crushing a pop can. It’s solid and significant without being hollow or “tingy.” Well struck shots simply feel awesome.

The Takeaway 

What’s old is new. A classic-shaped TaylorMade wood paired with a high-end shaft (in the TP model) results in a premium offering for better players. The low spin the club creates is achieved by an extremely forward and low COG. The result is an extremely high-performing club that will offer a certain segment of talented players increased performance.

At a minimum, players will likely increase loft by at least a full degree without losing any yardage. If you go this route, you’ll want to tinker with the 3-degree range of adjustability to dial in your yardage gaps. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself hitting the ball a bit higher and a bit further that whatever you’re playing now. You may also have to rework the transition from hybrid/5 wood to your longest iron.

If you’re trying to decide between the TP and standard models, the shaft options in the TP line make it a no brainer, especially if you have a fairly high swing speed or place a lot of load on the shaft. If you’re simply looking for an uber-forgiving, distance-oriented fairway wood or hybrid, there are other options out there.

TaylorMade has dominated the metal-woods portion of the industry for the last decade and then some. With offerings such as the SLDR, that reign isn’t going to end anytime soon. The year of loft might just take a bit longer to complete.

Pros: Two different options, a Pro version with a slightly smaller head and lower launch and spin, and a standard version with more forgiveness and an easier launch. The forged Hyper Speed Face Cup produces a smooth feel and more ball speed across the face.

Cons: The look of the Pro version turns heads, but even the better player might find it takes more “work” to hit great shots.

Bottom line: Both hybrids live up to the marketing promise of higher ball speeds and more distance even on shots not hit on the sweet spot. The X2 Hot Pro is geared for the better player and creates lower-launching, more-penetrating flight and the ability to easily work the ball in any direction. On the other hand, all golfers, even better players, should seriously consider the X2 Hot Hybrid and its slightly larger, more-forgiving face and higher-launching ball flight.

Overview

Callaway continues to launch new products that offer golfers two different versions to chose from — a Pro version for better players and a standard version designed for everyone — allowing golfers of every skill level an off-the-rack choice of clubs suited to their general needs. The X2 Hot Pro hybrid, with its smaller, tour-inspired head and Aldila Tour Green shaft, is designed for the better player looking for a lower-launching, lower-spinning hybrid. The X2 Hot hybrid, designed for every golfer, has a larger face, larger sweet spot and Aldila Tour Blue shaft that makes it easier to launch the ball in the air and generate distance even on mishits.

The Callaway X2 Hot Hybrid (above) and X2 Hot Pro hybrids have similar-looking club faces, but the body of the X2 Hot Pro is substantially slimmer.

For the first time, Callaway added its high-strength forged 455-carpenter steel cup face to the X2 Hot hybrids. Last year’s X Hot fairway woods proved that adding a forged face to a fairway wood means more distance for more players, and bringing that technology to hybrids was a natural progression. Through its precision forging process, Callaway claims it was able to increase the spring-like effect of the face not just in the center of the club, but all over the face, leading to increased distance even on mishits.

The X2 Hot hybrids are available in lofts of 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees and come stock with Aldila’s Tour Blue 65 hybrid shaft in light, regular and stiff flexes. Stock swingweight is D0. The X2 Hot Pro hybrids come in lofts of 16, 18, 20 and 23 with an aftermarket version of Aldila’s Tour Green 75 hybrid shaft in R, S and X flexes. Stock swing weight is D2. Both hybrids will be available in stores Jan. 17 and sell for $199.

Performance

During any given round I might hit my hybrid off the tee, off the deck, from the rough or possibly even around the green, making the hybrid one of the most versatile clubs in my bag. I tested the X2 Hot and X2 Hot Pro hybrids over multiple sessions both on the course during rounds and on a Flightscope launch monitor on the driving range. My goal was to simply see if the ball flight and performance matched Callaway’s claims.

My first few shots with the X2 Hot hybrid were on the driving range prior to a round. It only took a few swings to realize this hybrid was going to play a big role in my bag. The X2 Hot hybrid was almost effortless to launch and produced a nice ball flight that wasn’t necessarily low and boring, but also wasn’t ballooning up in the air. The turf interaction on both clubs was very nice and I could play these hybrids out of the rough or fairway. My typical ball flight with a hybrid is straight to a slight cut, however with the X2 Hot hybrid, almost all my shots on the range and in testing produced a draw. I could still work the ball left to right, but it was clear these clubs have a least a little draw bias.

I really wanted the X2 Hot Pro hybrid to produce great results for me as well. I instantly liked the look of the smaller head and clean crown. At address, the Pro hybrid really looked and felt like an iron, but with a lot more power behind it. I only hit a few shots on the range before the round, but I could tell the ball flight was more penetrating, the spin was even lower than the X2 Hot hybrid and the distance was slightly longer. However, unlike the effortless launch of the standard hybrid, I was working hard on every shot.

Notice how much longer front to back the X2 Hot hybrid (above) is than the X2 Hot Pro hybrid. That moves the CG more rearward in the head, raising launch and spin. 

Over the course of four rounds, I played the X2 Hot and X2 Hot Pro hybrids in as many on-course situations as possible. Each club continued to produce the ball flight and distance I expected. The standard hybrid was easily more forgiving, and by the middle of the week I had gained a lot of confidence in the club. The X2 Hot Pro hybrid continued to make me work for every good shot that I hit.

After on-course testing, I wanted to get on a launch monitor and confirm my theory that both hybrids live up to their marketing claims and confirm what I was seeing in the on-course testing.

Performance: Standard X2 Hot Hybrid

Over the course of an hour-long session on Flightscope, I rotated between both hybrids and threw out true mishits and outliers from the data. The majority of my swings produced shots off or near the sweet spot, not a dime size by any means, but consistent. I also tested shots off the heel and toe as well as high and low.

The X2 Hot hybrid is designed to launch easier but still have a nice penetrating flight with lower spin than Callaway’s previous hybrids. On average, when compared to the X2 Hot Pro, the standard hybrid generated 2 mph more ball speed, 4 more yards of carry and 1.5 yards more total distance. The launch angle was actually only a half-degree higher but generated 300 more rpm of spin and a peak height that was 2 yards higher. That said, the spin numbers were much lower than my current gamer and right inline with the range I would want out of a hybrid.

Almost every shot I hit with the X2 Hot hybrid had a draw ball flight and a very nice trajectory. What is most impressive and very important is that mishits off the heel and toe resulted in very little loss of ball speed and total distance, proving Callaway’s claim of a larger sweet spot. As expected, shots off the heel would likely minimize the draw tendency, but instead of producing a solid fade, it produced relatively straight shots or slight cuts. I really had to mishit this club to produce wildly offline shots.

Performance: X2 Hot Pro Hybrid

Last year’s X Hot Pro hybrids, while lower spinning than previous generations, still generated more spin than some better players were looking for. Callaway took this feedback and decided to lower the CG (center of gravity) by 40 percent in an effort to decrease spin and lower ball flight. It worked. While the launch angle was only marginally lower than the X2 Hot hybrid, the overall trajectory was lower while still resulting in nice flight time and carry numbers. My spin numbers were excellent and when properly struck, the golf ball jumped off the face and flew forever.

In contrast to the X2 Hot hybrid, the majority of my shots had less draw and I was more prone to hitting straight shots and cuts with the X2 Hot Pro hybrid. Mishits off the heel and toe still generated good ball speed, but it was much easier to mishit the Pro version. High shots and low shots on the face were more costly resulting in average distance loss of 4 to 5 yards.

Those were the averages. Where it gets really interesting is when I looked at the top five swings with both hybrids, based on carry and total distance, smash factor, spin and launch angle. The X2 Hot Pro hybrid outperforms the standard hybrid in every category except smash factor. I produced 4 more yards of carry and 7 more total yards, a straight to slight cut ball flight with a fractionally lower smash factor and lower launch. In fact, my three longest shots of the day were with the X2 Hot Pro hybrid and each shot was at least 4 yards longer than the longest X2 Hot shot. If I could be assured I would hit the ball almost perfectly every time, the X2 Hot Pro hybrid would be in my bag. However, it also means that the X2 Hot Pro hybrid is less forgiving, requires a lot more work to hit quality shots and truly is a club fit for the very best of players.

Both clubs outperform my current gamer in every category and generated average distance gains of 5 to7 yards. But more importantly, both clubs produced results I expected based on Callaway’s claims. For the better player, the Pro version should be very enticing, but even if you favor pro models, I would recommend also testing the standard version as a comparison. For the golfer looking for help getting the ball into the air and greater forgiveness on mishits, the standard version should go to the top of the list of hybrids to test.

Looks and Feel

From the moment I took the headcover off, I was instantly impressed with the look of these clubs. Both hybrids received a very noticeable redesign that went deeper than just a new paint job. With less pinching at the toe and the heel, less offset and more scroll lines on the face, the X2 Hot hybrids have a much more iron-like look than last year’s X Hot hybrids.

The darker grey color and darker Aldila shaft colors blend better in my opinion than the dark head and light shaft combination of last year’s X Hot hybrids. Both clubs have very clean, minimalistic crowns. The X2 Hot hybrid has a chevron alignment mark, which I like, while the Pro version is completely clean on the crown. Both clubs really look nice behind the ball at address and instill a lot of confidence prior to taking the club back.

The overall graphics package, from the clean crowns to the sweet-looking Aldila shafts, really give these clubs a nice blend of traditional and modern hybrid styling.

Above: The “real deal” Aldila Tour Green 75 that comes stock in the X2 Hot Pro Hybrid. 

The forged face feels silky smooth at impact, especially off the sweet spot, and aided in the feeling that it was almost effortless to get the ball in the air. Plenty of feedback is also available on both heel/toe and high/low hits. I knew exactly where I made contact on each shot before even looking at the impact marks. Impact with the X2 Hot Pro, with its smaller head, felt more firm and iron-like while the X2 Hot hybrid felt slightly more springy like a fairway wood. These two clubs have distinctively different feels at impact and since feel is subjective, it is another good reason to test both clubs before making a decision.

Bottom Line

Callaway decided to rethink the look and feel of its hybrid line for this year and I think it hit a home run. The clean lines, forged face, larger sweet spot and premium shaft options all work together to create two hybrids that offer different characteristics for different types of golfers, but ultimately produce the same result: more distance on more shots.

Whether you are a high- or low-handicap golfer, both X2 Hot hybrids should be on your list of clubs to test this year.

Pros: Miminimal vibration on off-center strikes and easy to hit from a variety of lies. Impressive distance, and $20 cheaper than SLDR.

Cons: Some might not like the crown design, and the lack of adjustability is a bummer. Not very workability, and lots of spin at higher swing speeds (with stock shaft).

Bottom Line: If you don’t need the adjustability and spin-killing ability of the SLDR (and want to save a few bucks), the JetSpeed Rescue is worth a demo.

Overview

The TaylorMade JetSpeed Rescue is a hybrid club that features the same polymer-filled cavity as the other JetSpeed woods. According to the company, the new Speed Pocket saves weight from the design and allows the shallower clubface to flex more than it did in previous slotted models, the RBZ and RBZ Stage 2.

With the JetSpeed hybrid, TaylorMade was able to move the center of gravity lower and farther forward in the club head than the RBZ Stage 2 hybrids. That improves ball speed on center strikes, and helps the clubs launch higher with less spin, creating a steeper angle of descent for faster stopping power. In company testing, the JetSpeed hybrid spun 200-to-300 rpm less than TMag’s previous Rescue clubs.

The touted benefit of performance on shots struck lower in the club face was apparent on shots from both the fairway and rough. Simply put, shots that felt incredibly thin had nearly the same distance and trajectory as those that were flushed. While great performance lower in the club face is a feature of the whole JetSpeed line, it is perhaps most beneficial to the average golfer in the Rescue, as the club is played from the widest variety of lies, and the ball is likely struck off-center more often.

The JetSpeed hybrids come stock with Matrix’s Velox T in L, M, R and S flexes. The L Flex is the lightest at 45 grams, while the M Flex weighs 55 grams, the R flex weighs 65 grams and the S flex weighs 75 grams. They sell for $199.

Performance

In testing, the average ball speed for a swing speed of 98 mph was 142 mph. Spin numbers, however, were just over 4000 rpm, which is above the ideal range for me. However, there wasn’t the ballooning typical of a “spinny” hybrid with the JetSpeed.

Across 10 shots on the the launch monitor, the 19-degree hybrid carried an average distance of 217 yards with an average total distance of 231 yards. Roll out would likely be less on typical fairways and greens, of course, with the amount of spin generated. Accuracy was respectable, save for a left bias, which likely was a product of the shaft.

On shots struck lower in the face, the TaylorMade JetSpeed rescue did what it claimed to: dampen vibration and provide a decent trajectory, rather than a skulled shot. Performance was good on shots struck elsewhere on the club face, including the heel and toe. It was difficult to hit a truly awful shot anywhere on the clubface, and the JetSpeed rescue clearly shared the auto-corrective, higher-MOI properties of the other JetSpeed woods.

The JetSpeed hybrid’s ability to easily get the ball airborne was evident from lies in the rough and other less-than-ideal situations. Again, as shots struck lower on the clubface are more common in such situations, the JetSpeed rescue performed admirably.

Like the other woods in the JetSpeed line, the JetSpeed hybrid is designed more with forgiveness in mind than workability. As such, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s difficult to work the ball significantly with this club — everything seems to go pretty straight — and that’s not the worst golf-related problem to have.

Looks and Feel 

The sole of the club features the same branding as the other JetSpeed woods, with the “aircraft in a wind tunnel” sort of metallic bottom, as well as a fixed weight and the polymer-filled slot. At address, the club sits square. Even though the profile is somewhat smaller than the SLDR, the clubhead doesn’t inspire any loss of confidence. As with the the other woods in the JetSpeed line, the Rescue features a grey-black crown with subtle (by today’s standards) crown graphics, which theoretically aid aiming.

The sound at impact was somewhat muted. While the JetSpeed driver and fairway woods tended toward the loud end of the spectrum, the Rescue was noticeably more muted. However, as with the other clubs, there was a vast difference in sound between shots struck on the the center of the face and those struck on the heel or toe.

The Takeaway

As we said about the JetSpeed driver, if you’re considering going the TaylorMade route and are looking for a more forgiving, lower-spinning, and (slightly) lower-priced hybrid, and don’t need an adjustable club, the JetSpeed Rescue is a great play for 2014.

Pros: Classic looks and a pleasing sound and feel. Two of the highest-launching fairway woods and hybrids we’ve tested.

Cons: Not adjustable. These could spin too much for high-spin golfers. Only one stock shaft, and their swing weights (D5/D4) are a bit on the heavy side. 

Bottom line: Versatile, good looking fairway woods and hybrids that are easy to launch high and straight. 

Overview

The Cleveland 588 fairway wood and hybrids are fixed-hosel clubs. The fairway woods come in four lofts: 14, 15.5, 18 and 20.5 degrees. The 14- and 20.5-degree clubs were crafted for right-hand golfers only, while the 15.5 and 18 degree heads are offered in left and right-hand versions.

The four-part hybrid series lists available offerings as H2 (18 degree), H3 (20.5), H4 (23) and H5 (26). The H5 is available in a right-hand model only, while the other three clubs offer left and right-hand options.

Additional specifications include D5 swing weights for the fairway woods and D4 swing weights for the hybrids. Standard shafts are the Matrix Ozik 6Q3 for the fairway clubs (the same as offered in the Cleveland 588 Custom Driver) and the Matriz Ozik Altus for the hybrids. Both shafts boast mid-range flex points.

Retail cost for the 588 Fairway Woods is $199.99, while the price point for the Hybrids is $169.99.

Performance

For me, there can be a difference between launch monitor testing and real-course success stories. It’s not complicated: you smash a club indoors, yet struggle with it on the deck or the tee. I had cautious confidence in these clubs when I left the testing studio. My numbers for the 15.5 degree three-metal and the 20.5 degree hybrid were comforting, albeit not yet inspirational.

• My swing speed with the clubs was in the low 90s (mph).
• Smash factor oscillating from a low of 1.41 through the mid-range, topping out at 1.49.
• Max height also varied, from 12 yards to 22 yards high.
• Spin rate averaged 3267 with a few outliers in each direction.
• Average length was 217 yards for the three-metal and 198 for the hybrid. Here I found a discrepancy between lab and fairway.

On the North Carolina sand hills courses that I played, I needed to hit a variety of shots with these fairway clubs. They courses demanded an accurate, well-flighted shot to avoid the sandy waste area and bunkers that protected landing areas and putting greens. I was encourage by the quick ascent of the numerous, well-struck Cleveland fairway woods that I hit. Invariably, I found myself greenside or putting after plays with these clubs. On a trio of occasions, I found myself putting BACK to the green. I cannot remember the last time I was LONG into a hole that required a metal or hybrid approach.

My typical ball flight is fairly straight. While I’m capable of hitting fades and draws, I typically aim at my target or play to the high side of the slope. On occasion, I attempt to turn the ball over with a slight draw to the left. My launch monitor numbers (my testing was done on Trackman) suggested this tendency, as the majority of shots erred to the left of center. On the course, I had a few slight misses to the left, but we know that a draw is always something to brag about!

I’m no gambler, but had I lain money during our trip, I’d have returned with a stuffed wallet, thanks in part to the performance of the Cleveland 588 three wood and hybrid.

Looks and Feel

Cleveland uses the adjective “clean” to describe the looks of its 588 fairway woods and hybrids. I am in total agreement; there are no distracting lines, dots or geometric figures in view. The sole of the club looks like a route from the Matrix, but you don’t see the sole at address.

Speaking of Matrix, that company’s Ozik 6Q3 (fairway) and Ozik Altus (hybrid) shafts should be in demand as standard fits when word of these clubs gets out. Cleveland equips its 2014 drivers with Matrix Ozik shafts as well, and they were incredibly lively when I got on course. Interestingly, my three playing companions wanted to know the manufacturer of the head, but none of them inquired as to the type of shaft. Unless they read this review, I’ll keep it a secret for a while longer.

588 Fairway Wood at Address

 588 Hybrid at Address

Outdoors, I heard a sound on a few hits with the 588 Altitude driver that I hadn’t experienced indoors on the Trackman: a distinctive ring, like that of a holiday bell. It signaled a ripped drive, so I was glad to hear it sound. No such noise came from the fairway wood or hybrid clubs, even when I drilled the former some 235 yards and the latter a solid 215. I like the absence of sound in all my clubs, so both thumbs are up on that evaluation point.

There were a few off-center hits over the course of 90 holes, but not a single one, even in the 30- and 40-degree weather in which we played, gave that jarring feeling that makes you return the club to the bag head-first and cry, “No more will you threaten my score!” After I mis-hit the shot, I was anxious to take another rip with both clubs. It’s nice to feel that confidence again on a shot of more than 210 yards.

I am a fan of a functional head cover. Some companies go all-out for their drivers, then skimp when it comes to the fairway clubs. You’d think it would be the reverse, since golfers typically purchase a personalized cover for the big stick, while continuing to use the company sock on the fairways and hybrids. Cleveland offers a solid head cover with leather upper and a tug belt.

The stock grip on the 588 Fairway Woods and Hybrids is a Golf Pride Tour 35. It has a firm feel, different from the Tour 25 that comes standard on the Cleveland 588 Altitude driver.

Bottom Line

I very much doubt that my play with the 588 fairway woods and hybrids has been a fluke run. I switched effortlessly between the 588 Custom and Altitude drivers and found them often in the fairway. My buddies got in the habit of  saying “Nice shot, Ron” because I simply couldn’t miss. And drives were long, amigos! Not the kind that threaten Jamie Sadlowski, but certainly brag-worthy for this middle-aged linksman.

For the past decade, I’ve struggled to find fairway metal clubs that gave me confidence to hit the ball 225-to-240 yards down the fairway. My misses were so bad that I routinely backed off to a 3- or 4-iron to get the 200 yards I could on a par 5 or a long par 4. This past weekend, I hit balls over the greens with the Cleveland fairway clubs, for goodness sake!

Nothing about these clubs distracted me from the task at hand. Uphill, flat or sidehill lies were handled with panache and confidence. That’s why I suggest that golfers take a serious look at the Cleveland 588 Fairway Woods and Hybrids.

Thanks to Kevin Hoffstetter and Donna Henrich of Woods To Wedges, Inc. (Williamsville, NY) for the use of their Trackman studio and their assistance in capturing and tabulating driver swing data.

Pros: A scorching hot face for boring, penetrating shots off the tee. They’re very workable, and have a sole shape that glides through rough nicely.

Cons: Hoisting a high, soft shot can be a challenge. Also, the price tag of $200 is on the high side for a hybrid.

Bottom Line: For lower-handicap players who want a hybrid that can be used off the tee, from the fairway or the rough, this one provides great distance and shot-shaping potential. It’s pretty, too.

Overview

If you surveyed the thousand or so best professional golfers in the world — in America, in Europe and Asia for men and women — you would find that Adams has incredible market share in hybrids. And you wouldn’t be surprised, either, because it has been this way for years.

Part of Adams’ success in the hybrids category is that its designers have released variations on the hybrid model that appeal to a wide range of tastes while still maintaining the same core, successful characteristics.

Such is the case, yet again, with Adams’ 2014 selection of hybrids. There are five — three with the “Pro” name and the Idea and the XTD Ti. The three Pro hybrids are the Pro, which is covered in the review, as well as the Pro Mini and the Pro DHy. The Pro is the closest of the three clubs to a fairway wood in terms of construction and performance, while the other two creep closer to the “driving iron” subset of hybrid, which is very popular in its own right.

Above: The Adams Pro Dhy (left), Pro Mini (center) and Pro (right) hybrids at address.

The Pro hybrid both echoes and confirms the innovative “upside-down” design of Adams’ original Tight Lies fairway woods in the 1990s. The fact that many of Adams’ fairway wood and hybrid models since then have adopted that general shape is a testament to its effectiveness. In essence, the club uses a longer, flatter sole and a shallow face to make it easier to launch and shape the flight of the golf ball. The Pro hybrid also uses both Adams Velocity Slot and Cut-Thru technologies, which are meant to channel more energy to the ball and optimize launch, spin and ball speed, even on off-center hits.

Adams’ Pro Hybrids ($200) come stock with Aldila’s Tour Red hybrid shafts and are available in lofts of 16, 18, 20, 23 and 26 degrees.

Performance

More than any type of club except wedges, hybrids need to be versatile. They need to be useful off the tee, off the fairway and, usually, from the rough. Also, they should be capable of helping a player hit a low draw and a high fade at will, either to escape trouble or access the green on a reachable par 5 or long par 3 or 4. I have had time to employ it from a wide range of ground conditions on a variety of holes and found it more than equal to nearly every task.

Happily, the Pro hybrid excels in all three regards, but if it has a particular strength, it is as a driving club. It is scary-long, with a similarly springy face to the XTD driver. A couple low draws I hit off the tee bounded along a fairway that was not terribly firm and rolled out to 250 or 260 yards. This from a 20-degree club that I hit much closer to 215 to 225 yards off the deck or with a fade, which is my natural shot shape. The only modest difficulty I have had so far is with hitting high fades that land baby’s-bottom-softly on the green, but I am confident that more familiarity with the club will change that over time.

I did some testing of the Pro hybrid at Myrtle Beach’s PGA Tour Superstore:

Ball speed / launch angle / spin rate / distance

136 mph / 9.9 deg / 3611 / 225 yds

These numbers support my observation that the Pro hybrid launches the ball a bit on the low side with lower spin, which makes it a particularly formidable off-the-tee choice.

Looks and Feel

I have always been picky about the at-address aesthetics of golf clubs, especially hybrids. I feared that the Velocity Slot feature in the Pro hybrid would be a distraction and make it difficult for me to align the club at address, but was glad to find the opposite to be the case. Lining up the slot perpendicular to the target is a new sensation of which I approve. I also like that the entire body of the club from the hosel down is black. Some hybrids exhibit different shaded metals or odd filigree on the crown or near the hosel and it annoys me. There is none of that with this club.

Feel-wise, it is very easy to know when you have caught one on the screws and when you’ve caught one off-center. The great advantage of the Pro hybrid over many others, though, is that even on less-solid hits, you will observe a relatively small loss of distance. When you do hit one flush, though, especially off the tee, there is no doubt that when you look up you will see your ball fleeing the clubface at breakneck speed on a pleasant trajectory. It is easy to see why the engineers in Adams’ employ have thought it worthwhile to risk some people’s opinions of the odd aesthetics of their fairway woods and hybrids: the Velocity Slot and Cut-Thru features have a tangible, positive impact on the flight of the golf ball.

The Takeaway

I had shied away from hybrids for the better part of a decade, often preferring fairway woods to the point where I have carried a 7-wood in the past. I still like fairway woods a great deal (I deliver the club pretty shallowly to the ball with long irons and woods), but the Adams Pro hybrid has made me question my historical bias. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with it and hitting some excellent shots with it: off the tee, from the fairway, from the rough and anywhere else it may be useful. I recommend it very highly if you are in the market for a new hybrid.

Pros: The crew at Nike took a fresh approach in designing the new VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids, making the lower-lofted clubs more forgiving and easier to launch than previously offered models. These new hybrids are long, accurate and versatile. If that isn’t appealing enough, they’re also easy on the eyes.

Cons: The FlexLoft system, which allows golfers to adjust loft and face angle independently, is only available on the Covert 2.0 Tour hybrids. Some golfers might find that the vibrant red paint job is too much of a head-turner and would prefer to play a more understated set of clubs.

The Takeaway: Golfers of varying skill level are abandoning their long irons in favor of hybrids. If you’re searching for a more forgiving utility club that can help you land the ball softly on long approach shots, the new Covert hybrids are up for the challenge.

Overview

When it comes to hybrids, Nike hasn’t come close to upending traditional market leaders Adams, Callaway, Ping and TaylorMade. But that hasn’t stopped the engineers behind the swoosh from introducing one of the most forgiving clubs in the utility category.

Tapping into what the folks at The Oven call “Linear Transition Design,” Nike released the VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids with progressively smaller head sizes as loft increases, while increasing the face height on each model. It’s a pattern commonly seen in fairway wood design that focuses on improving both the performance and playability of lower-lofted clubs. As you would expect, the 2 and 3 hybrids (17 and 20 degrees, respectively) play more like fairway woods, while the high-lofted hybrids are more iron-like and designed for approach shots to the green.

Compared to last year’s models, the new Covert hybrids have many subtle, but notable improvements. The new heads on both the tour and standard models are slighter heavier and deeper-faced. Nike’s patented NexCOR face technology has been reengineered to deliver faster ball speed and increased distance, even on off-center hits. The high-speed cavity design that was the signature feature introduced a year ago has been reinforced with Nike’s new Fly-brace technology, which increases stability, improves energy transfer to the ball and reduces twisting at the moment of impact.

The Tour model allows the golfer to adjust the loft (up to five degrees) and face angle independently using Nike’s FlexLoft system. The standard edition hybrids are not adjustable, but are available in five models ranging from 17 to 26 degrees. Both the tour and standard hybrids are paired with premium shaft offerings from Mitsubishi Rayon. The tour hybrid uses a Kuro Kage Silver 80-gram graphite shaft for more stability and lower spin. The standard edition comes with the Kuro Kage Black HBP Graphite 70-gram shaft, which has a higher balance point to allow for the slightly heavier club heads.

As in the case of Nike’s Covert drivers and fairway woods, the candy-apple red paint job on the crown can take a little getting used to at first, especially if you’re not accustomed to receiving unsolicited attention. I haven’t been paired with a single golfer on the course who hasn’t stolen a wayward glance at my bag.

Owners of the original Covert hybrids will notice that the design of the new models remain virtually unchanged. Nike wisely resisted the urge to overhaul what is already regarded as a winning design. This time around, Nike took to refining the underside of their golf clubs, smoothing out some of the chunkier elements, reducing the footprint and giving the VRS Covert typeface some much-needed oomph.

The following hybrids were tested using factory-set loft and face angle settings:

• Covert 2.0 hybrid (20 degrees) with a 40-inch Kuro Kage Black 70S ($179 MSRP)
• Covert 2.0 Tour hybrid (20 degrees) with a 41-inch Kuro Kage Silver TiNi 80S ($229 MSRP)

Testing was conducted at Pete’s Golf Shop in Mineola, N.Y., a Golf Digest Top-100 club fitter, and was supervised by Kirk Oguri, an equipment specialist and teaching professional. The clubs were evaluated using a Foresight launch monitor.

Performance (Covert 2.0)

The Nike Covert 2.0 hybrids, much like the drivers and fairway woods, have slightly heavier heads than last year’s models and ship with Golf Pride’s 55-gram 2G Tour Wrap grips. I found, at times, that the driver and fairway woods were challenging to swing optimally, especially for golfers like myself who have spent years playing lighter equipment. The hybrids, on the other hand, were remarkably easy to hit.

The standard edition hybrid played very much like a high-lofted fairway wood. The center of gravity is much farther back in the traditionally-rounded club head, and is more forgiving than its tour sibling. Needless to say, it’s designed to launch higher and spin more. My swing speed is about 95 mph with a driver, and my average shot produced a launch angle of 14 degrees and 4500 rpm of total spin. My ball speed was 121.1 mph, leading to a carry distance of 174 yards (192 yards total).

The numbers were nearly identical to my gamer — a 2011 TaylorMade Rescue (19 degrees) — that came stock with a regular-flex, 65-gram Aldila shaft. My lower-spinning TaylorMade actually produced a little more rollout than the Covert, and was generally easier to work in both directions. I found the Covert, on the other hand, a little more difficult to turn over, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Given a choice, I’d rather play a club that consistently produces a certain shot shape than have to worry about the occasional double-cross surfacing at the most inopportune moment on the course.

Performance (Covert 2.0 Tour)

This was the rare case where the tour model clearly outperformed the standard-edition counterpart for a golfer like myself who doesn’t generate tour-level club-head speed.

The Covert 2.0 Tour, with its smaller, less-rounded head, produced a penetrating ball flight, even on off-center hits. My numbers on the launch monitor were considerably more desirable than the results I generated swinging the standard model. My ball speed went up 123.1 mph while my total spin decreased by about 800 rpm. My average carry was 186 yards with a total distance of 203 yards, an increase of 12 yards of carry.

Even though the tour model (set at 20 degrees) is supposed to behave like a fairway wood, it launched more like a driving iron for me. If I had to choose between the two, the lower-launching tour model would be the outright winner. The compact profile of the head is more versatile from a variety of lies, particularly out of the rough where a well-engineered hybrid can truly save a stroke. The fact that it hits the ball a little farther than the standard edition is an added bonus.

Look and Feel

Nike straddled a thin line bringing the Covert designs to market. The team wanted their clubs to look brash, muscular and athletic, reinforcing the ethos of their brand. But they also wanted the Covert drivers, woods and hybrids to pay homage to the classic club designs of yesteryear: clean, understated and sophisticated. In my estimation, they’ve succeeded in striking a balance.

The Covert hybrids are confidence-inspiring at address. There are no unnecessary graphical elements applied to the crown that make a play for your attention. Some golfers have expressed annoyance about having to stare at the white Nike swoosh near the heal, but I’ve never thought twice about it.

The hybrids, much like the other clubs in the Covert line, feel well-balanced in the hands. As mentioned previously, they are not lightest sticks in the marketplace and a golfer has to avoid the urge to over-swing and let the weight of the club do the work. When you do hit a well-struck shot, the hybrids will let you know it with an unmistakable whoosh that will please golfers who are sticklers for sound.

There are a few minor differences that should be noted between the different hybrid models. The head on the tour version is slightly heavier than the standard model and features a black, matte finish that can help to reduce glare. The FlexLoft adjustable hosel system is also only available on tour model. Whether that feature is a deal breaker or not is up to the individual golfer to consider when analyzing both their playing style and gapping needs.

The Bottom Line

The debut of the original Covert drivers, woods and hybrids were a surprise hit in the golf equipment arena. The message from Beaverton, Ore., was plain and simple. Can you hear us knocking? Considering all the changes, the second-generation Covert line has succeeded in improving the look and performance of each club, and it appears that Nike is ready to kick that door down.

The new hybrids are packed with innovation, forgiveness and versatility. Whether you require a club that can stick the green on a long par 3, or prefer a hybrid that can compete with and probably out-drive most high-lofted fairway woods, there’s a Covert designed around your needs.

Pros: The standard Bi0 Cell hybrid is hot, high-launching and quite versatile. MyFly8 adjustability allows you to dial in your preferred trajectory and ensure you have all yardage gaps covered. Driver-like face construction and strategically located Bio Cells promote a high launch and big time distance.

Cons: Unlike the Bio Cell driver and fairway, the hybrid is only offered in one model and has limited stock shaft offerings.

Takeaway: The Bio Cell hybrid is a kindred spirit to the Bio Cell fairway, and it rounds out Cobra’s metal wood offerings for the year quite nicely. The overall performance is quite good, but better players would probably like to see a lower-spinning Bio Cell+ model and more shaft offerings.

Overview

If you got along well with the Bio Cell driver or fairway woods, you’re going to love the hybrid as it’s effectively the hybrid version of the Bio Cell fairway wood. Same technology. Same color scheme and same rough-demolishing, round-saving performance.

Hybrids continue to exist in the netherworld; not quite a wood and not quite an iron. As such, players continue to examine the tradeoffs between the increased distance and forgiveness of a true fairway wood and the playability of a hybrid. For 2014, Cobra is offering three loft/club designations:

• Bio Cell 2-3 Hybrid: Adjustable from 16-to-19 degrees. Draw settings are available at 16.5, 17.5 and 18.5 degrees. Stock length is 41 inches and the swingweight is D2.
• Bio Cell 3-4 Hybrid: Adjustable from 19-to-22 degrees. Draw settings are available at 19.5, 20.5 and 21.5 degrees. Stock length is 40.25 inches and swingweight is D2.
• Bio Cell 4-5 Hybrid: Adjustable from 22-to-25 degrees. Draw settings are available at 22.5, 23.5 and 24.5 degrees. Stock length is 39.5 inches and swingweight is D2.

Each club is equipped with MyFly8 hosel adjustability that offers eight different settings to allow the player to dial in preferred trajectory and shot shape. The SmartPad feature supports the club at address and permits the head to sit square regardless of selected MyFly8 setting.

The stock Cobra BiO Cell shaft weighs in at 63 grams in stiff flex and the E9 forged face and BiO Cell construction redistributes weight lower and further from the face to promote high launch, increased forgiveness and top-notch ball speed.

Each head is available in one of five unique colors: Blue, Black, Silver, Orange and Red.

Performance

Other than the difference in shafts, the performance of the hybrids is eerily similar to the BiO Cell fairway woods. The vast majority of the features and technology are the same, so one would likely expect similar performance. The good news is the performance is exactly that. The better news is the fairway wood absolutely rocked. It’s a little like being introduced to Yvonne Strahovski’s nearly identical sister. There are no losers here.

The E9 face and strategically positioned Bio Cells combine to create a fast face that launches high bombs from the tee, fairway and rough. Like it’s fairway counterpart, this club was absolutely awesome from varied lies.

Given how good the fairway models are, I really didn’t see any performance benefits over a similarly lofted fairway wood, but I could easily see Cobra selling a ton of the 3-4 and 4-5 hybrids as long iron replacements. I hit the 2-3 hybrid right next to the Bio Cell and Bio Cell+ 5 wood at the same MyFly8 setting and the hybrid was about a half club shorter, which one would expect given the difference in club length.

With the stock shaft, I spun the ball a bit too much and hit the ball quite a bit higher than I would have liked, but this was entirely a shaft issue, not a head issue. I think with a heavier shaft, this club would really come alive, but then again, I’m sure the stock shaft will fit a lot of players as well.

In using the MyFly8 hosel system, the different in ball flight was noticeable and significant, especially when altering trajectory by 2 degrees or more or when using any of the “draw” settings. As opposed to the fairway wood, I thought the hybrid set up pretty neutral regardless of MyFly8 setting. If anything, my miss with hybrid is a nasty hook that moves left quicker than political debate in Berkeley, and seeing a neutral face at address is a good thing in my book.

Even given the too light shaft, I was able to change trajectory and ball flight with moderate effort. This definitely isn’t a club that only wants to go high and straight, but if you’re looking for a long-iron alternative that you shape with ease, there are better options out there.

Looks and Feel

The Bio Cell hybrid is more wood than it is iron, and its more round profile confirms this. It’s almost like you’re looking at the low calorie version of the fairway wood. Color notwithstanding, the look at address is clean and it took me a while to actually notice the honeycomb “cells” on the rear of the head. At address, they are nearly undetectable. The juxtaposition of bright color and charcoal face really provides a nice contrast and frames the ball quite well.

At address: Cobra’s Bio Cell 3-4 hybrid set to 19 degrees. 

It offers the same solid monochromatic color profile, which is consistent with the rest of the 2014 line.

At address, the Bio Cell hybrid has a moderate footprint that isn’t too bulky and won’t be confused with a super game-improvement iron either. Regarding the “S” alignment aid on the crown, I could take it or leave it, but really, other than at address, when do you look at the top of the club?

The feel of the club is substantial and pure. It’s difficult to quantify, but the club-ball impact was more of a “thwack” and less of a “twang.” Well struck shots resulted in that awesome effortless feel of nothingness. Slight mishits didn’t feel awful, but were much less satisfying.

The headcover certainly leaves something to be desired and if there is a performance benefit to the holes, other than leaving ample room for clubs to get scratched or dinged by alignment poles or other clubs, I’m still yet to find it.

Bottom Line

It kind of feels like Cobra took the Bio Cell Fairway, reduced the copy size to 80 percent and hit play. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the Bio Cell fairway wood is stupendous, but the lack of available stock shafts is a bit of a downer.

That said, players looking for long-iron replacements and desiring a wood-like hybrid are going to love the performance and versatility of this club. Like the rest of the line, the hybrid has found a way to exist without much buzz and there really isn’t a good reason for it.

Wilson Staff’s newest line of equipment, the FG Tour M3, for the first time offers adjustable features in a Wilson Staff driver, fairway wood and hybrid.

The company’s previous line of equipment, the D100 series, was tailored to golfers seeking distance. But the FG Tour M3 is aimed at better players who are often more concerned with looks and feel.

The FG Tour M3 driver comes set at 9.5 degrees, but its adjustable hosel can adjust loft from 8.5 to 11.5 degrees in 0.5-degree increments. The deep-faced 460-cubic-centimeter head also has an adjustable sole weight to help golfers tune the swingweight of the club.

Like the FG Tour M3 fairway woods and hybrids, the driver has what Wilson calls an “Iced Matte Painted Crown” and a black PVD finish. The driver head is manufactured with a variable thickness face that maximizes CT, as well as a tour-preferred pear shape that makes the head look compact at address.

Price: $349.99
Stock shafts: Aldila RIP Phenom 50, Aldila RIP Phenom NL 60

FG Tour M3 Fairway Woods

Like the FG Tour M3 driver, Wilson Staff’s new fairway woods have a removable sole weight, as well as an adjustable hosel with a 2-degree range of adjustability. The heads are available in three stock lofts, 13.5, 15 and 17.5 degrees, which adjust in 0.5 degree increments to give golfers the ability to play a Wilson Staff fairway woods that measures anywhere from 12.5 to 19 degrees.

Unlike the F3 Tour M3 driver, the crown has no alignment markings, offering the clean, glare-free look prefered by purists.

Price: $219.99
Stock shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom 65

FG Tour M3 Hybrids

The FG Tour M3 hybrids complement the Wilson Staff FG Tour M3 irons, offering a clean, compact look and three stock lofts (17, 21 and 23 degrees) to help golfers fill the gap between their shortest wood and longest iron. Like the rest of the wood lineup, they have a removable sole weight and an adjustable hosel, which offers the same 2-degree range of adjustability (in 0.5-degree increments) as the FG Tour M3 fairway woods.

Price: $199.99
Stock shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom 85

A multi-system pouch will be included with every driver, fairway wood or hybrid purchase. Each pouch will contain an adjustability wrench, as well as 3-gram and 11-gram adjustable sole weights (the heads come with the 7-gram weight already installed).

FG Tour M3 Forged Irons

Wilson’s FG Tour M3 irons are forged from 8620 steel and have a matte black PVD finish. Their progressive cavity design moves weight lower and away from the center of the face in the long irons, which helps increase forgiveness and provides a higher launch. The short irons have a center of gravity that is higher in the head and closer to the middle of the face to provide a more penetrating flight and workability.

The irons have thin toplines throughout the set, giving them the compact look that better golfers expect from a Wilson Staff iron.

Price: $799 with steel, $899 with graphite
Stock shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold XP (Steel), Aldila RIP Phenom 95 (Graphite)

Click here to see in-hand photos of the irons.

The Wilson Staff FG Tour M3 lineup will be available at retail in January 2014.

Like TaylorMade’s SLDR driver, the company’s new SLDR fairway woods and hybrids promise golfers more distance from a lower, more forward center of gravity.

The SLDR fairway woods and hybrids have a new version TaylorMade’s “Speed Pocket,” which is no longer indented into the front of the sole like previous models. While it’s smaller than the Speed Pocket featured on the company’s RBZ Stage 2 fairway woods and hybrids, it now slices completely through the sole, creating a gap that is filled with the same polymer the company used in the design of its RocketBladez and SpeedBlade irons.

Mike Ferris, vice president of product marketing for TaylorMade, said that the new Speed Pocket makes the SLDR fairway woods even lower spinning and higher launching than previous models. The 1 mm more forward CG creates an estimated 200-to-300 rpm reduction in spin and a 1-degree increase in launch angle, giving golfers two options to improve their fairway wood and hybrid play. They can use the additional ball speed created from the clubs’ lower, more forward center of gravity to hit their fairway woods and hybrids farther, or they can choose to play higher-lofted models, which will allow them to raise their trajectory.

The draw back of moving weight lower and more forward in a club head is that it lowers a club’s moment of inertia (MOI), or its resistance to twisting on off-center hits, which decreases a club’s forgiveness. But Ferris stressed that the revamped Speed Pocket more than makes up for the loss of forgiveness, because it adds additional spring-like effect that improves the ball speed of shots struck off-center.

SLDR 3 Wood at address

 SLDR 3 Hybrid at address

Note: The small alignment line positioned behind TaylorMade’s “T” logo will not be added to the retail versions of fairway woods and hybrids. 

In 2013, 15 percent of the fairway woods TaylorMade sold were its “high launch” models, which have the shape of a 3 wood or 5 wood, but are designed with more loft to help boost launch angle. In 2014, Ferris said he expects that number to grow to 25 percent of TaylorMade’s fairway woods sales, as more golfers realize the benefit of hitting higher-launching, lower-spinning shots.

“The loft of fairway woods has been evolving,” Ferris said. “We think it’s good to be able to play a 4 wood instead of a 3 wood.”

Many tour players, including 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, have embraced higher-lofted fairway woods, which they are able to hit the same distance as their older, lower-lofted fairway woods but with a higher trajectory. And for golfers such as Rose, having more loft on a fairway wood has a visual benefit as well.

“It gives me more confidence to look down at a fairway wood and see more loft, especially if I know that it’s going to fly just as far,” Rose said.

The SLDR fairway woods and hybrids have a 3-degree range of adjustability (+/- 1.5 degrees), which is adjustable in 0.5-degree increments. They are made to be “visually square” at address, which means that in the neutral setting they will have a face angle that measures 2 degrees open.

The fairway woods are smaller in size than their predecessor, TaylorMade’s RBZ Stage 2 Tour, with the SLDR 3 wood measuring 20 cubic centimeters smaller (155cc versus 175cc), while the hybrids are about the same size as last year’s models. The combination of the shallower fairway wood heads and slightly shorter shaft lengths (both the fairway woods and hybrids are 0.25 inches shorter than TaylorMade’s RBZ Stage 2 Tour models) should make the clubs more playable for the majority of golfers.

The SLDR fairway woods and hybrids will be available starting Nov. 15. The fairway woods will sell for $249 ($349 with TaylorMade’s TP shafts), and the hybrids will cost $219 ($289 with a TP shaft).

Additional specs from TaylorMade

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the SLDR Fairway Woods and Hybrids in the forums.

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the SLDR Fairway Woods and Hybrids in the forums.

Pictured above (from left) are the TaylorMade JetSpeed 3 Wood, Driver and Fairway Metal

Just three weeks ago, TaylorMade announced its SLDR fairway woods and hybrids. Today, golfers are getting their first look at TaylorMade’s newest line of metalwoods, JetSpeed, which includes a new driver, fairway woods and hybrids.

Pictured above (from left) are the TaylorMade JetSpeed 3 Wood, Driver and Fairway Metal

See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

TaylorMade JetSpeed Driver

Before you attempt to throw your February-released (and now two-models old) TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 and RBZ Stage 2 Tour drivers, fairway woods and hybrids through the windows of TaylorMade’s headquarters, take note that the JetSpeed metalwoods are almost certainly a complement to the SLDR line, and not a replacement.

Picture above: The JetSpeed driver’s matte-painted crown

The JetSpeed driver, fairway woods and hybrids have shallow, or short, faces when measured from sole to crown. And only the JetSpeed driver has any adjustability, a 3-degree adjustable hosel.

Those are clues that the JetSpeed metalwoods are a direct replacement for TaylorMade’s higher-spinning RBZ Stage 2 (non-tour) drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, while the more adjustable, deeper-faced SLDR driver, fairway woods and hybrids are a replacement the company’s lower-spinning RBZ Stage 2 Tour line.

See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

TaylorMade JetSpeed Fairway Woods

Pictured above: The sole of a JetSpeed 15-degree 3 wood. Below is a photo of the club’s crown. 

Like the SLDR fairway woods and hybrids, JetSpeed models have the company’s new Speed Pocket, a handle-bar shaped slot that cuts all the way through the soles of the clubs.

According to Mike Ferris, vice president of product marketing for TaylorMade, the new Speed Pocket makes the SLDR fairway woods lower spinning and higher launching than the RBZ Stage 2 Tour fairway woods, and it’s safe to say that golfers will likely see the same from JetSpeed, as higher-launching, lower-spinning metalwood shots are the key to helping most golfers unlock more distance.

Photo above: The face of a JetSpeed 15-degree 3 wood, which is shallower TaylorMade’s SLDR 15-degree SLDR fairway woods. 

The JetSpeed driver also has a slot in its sole, marking the first time TaylorMade has used a true-to-form Speed Pocket in one of its drivers. While the sliding weight mechanism TaylorMade used in its SLDR driver has some of the beneficial properties associated with a Speed Pocket, the slot does not go all the way through the sole as it appears to on the JetSpeed driver.

So what’s with the name JetSpeed?

TaylorMade’s 2012 line of “RocketBallz” drivers, fairway woods and hybrids was said to be inspired by the reaction of some of the company’s tour players, who allegedly said the ball came off the face of the clubs “like a rocket.” TaylorMade named the thinner, stronger material it used to create its 2013 RBZ Stage 2 fairway woods “Rocket Steel.” Rocket Steel, used in the aerospace industry in rocket engines and jet landing gears, was 38 percent stronger than the 455 carpenter steel steel alloy the company used to make the faces of its original RocketBallz fairway woods. Might I be jumping to conclusions to say that the alloy used to make the JetSpeed metalwoods might also be from the aerospace industry, maybe a lighter, stronger “Jet Steel” perhaps?

See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

TaylorMade JetSpeed Hybrids

Like the JetSpeed fairway woods, the JetSpeed hybrids aren’t adjustable.

The JetSpeed driver, fairway woods and hybrids will be available Dec. 13. The driver comes stock with a 46-inch Matrix Velox T 49 shaft in lofts of 9.5, 10.5 and 13 degrees and sells for $299. It is also available in a TP model with beefier Matrix Velox T 60 shaft for $399.

The fairway woods are available in lofts of 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 degrees with Matrix’s Velox T 69 shaft and will sell for $229. The hybrids ($199) are available in lofts of 19, 22, 25 and 28 degrees. The weight of the stock shaft, a Matrix Velox T, varies by weight. Regular-flex shafts are 65 grams and stiff-flex shafts are 75 grams.

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Cobra has color cornered in its new line of BiO Cell drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, which are available in club heads painted blue, red, silver, orange and black.

Also see the new for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Fairway Woods and the New for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Drivers.

That makes the company the clear-cut leader in personalization among the major equipment manufacturers, a definite feather in Cobra’s many-hued cap. But Cobra leadership is hoping that the performance of the new line, not the five color options, will leave the biggest impression on golfers in 2014.

BiO Cell Driver

The BiO Cell drivers are longer than last year’s AMP Cell drivers thanks to their 50 percent lower center of gravity (CG), which makes the new model launch an average of 1.2 degrees higher than AMP Cell with about 300 rpms less spin, according to Cobra testing.

The lower CG was made possible through Cobra’s “BiO Cell” technology, changes to the walls of the 460-cubic-centimeter driver head that were inspired by strong, lightweight structures found in nature such as spider webs and beehives.

Similar webbed patterns are prominently displayed on the crown and sole of the 6-4 titanium driver, evidence of the cellular approach Cobra engineers took to moving as many grams of weight as possible from the higher, more-frontward parts of the driver head to lower, more-rearward areas.

Much of the weight savings came from driver’s crown, which is 0.15 mm thinner than last year’s model. It now measures a slim 0.5 mm, creating a weight saving of nearly 2 grams. The driver’s Forged E9 “BiO Cell” face was also made lighter and thinner, resulting in a two-fold improvement. It gave engineers another 2 grams of discretionary weight to move low and deep in the head, and the thinner face is also more responsive on shots hit off center, increasing the size of the driver’s sweet spot.

Those changes add up to a driver that is not only longer than the AMP Cell, but also more forgiving, with an impressive 4250 moment of inertia (MOI).

The BiO Cell driver also has Cobra’s new MyFly8 adjustable hosel, which adds two more settings than its predecessor. (Note: The new hosel design will not accommodate shafts with the company’s original MyFly tips).

The MyFly8 hosel gives golfers five different loft settings, 9, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 12 degrees, as well as three draw (D) settings, 9.5D, 10.5D and 11.5D, which make the club more upright to promote more draw bias. Those eight settings work with the company’s Smart Pad, a 1.5-cm strip on the sole of the driver that helps keep the driver head square throughout its 3-degree adjustable range. In its lowest loft, 9 degrees, the BiO Cell will sit about 0.5-degrees opened, while in its highest loft, 12 degrees, the driver will sit about 0.75-degrees closed.

Also see the new for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Fairway Woods and the New for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Drivers.

The Cobra BiO Cell drivers will hit shelves on Jan. 15 and sell for $299. They’ll come stock with a 45.75-inch True Temper Project X PXv shaft, a co-engineered design available in lite, regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes. The stock swing weights are D3 (lite flex) D4 (regular and stiff flexes) and D4.5 (x-stiff flex).

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about Cobra’s new BiO Cell line.

BiO Cell Fairway Woods and Hybrids

Cobra’s BiO Cell fairway woods and hybrids take the same dedicated approach to moving weight low and deep in the head as the company’s BiO Cell drivers.

The bodies of the fairway woods are made from 17-4 stainless steel, but the clubs have high-strength 455 Carpenter steel faces, which along with the fairway woods’ slightly more forward CG creates about 2 mph more ball speed than the AMP Cell fairway woods.

The faces of the fairway woods are also 4 mm shallower, or shorter, making them easier to hit from the ground and light rough.

According to Jose Miraflor, director of product marketing for Cobra-Puma golf, golfers should expect the BiO Cell fairway woods to launch about 0.5-degrees higher than their AMP Cell equivalents with 500 rpms less spin. Those launch conditions, combined with the clubs’ faster ball speeds, should give golfers an average distance gain of 9-to-11 yards.

Photo above: Note the weight mass on the front of the sole of the BiO Cell fairway woods. That gives the clubs a more forward CG than the AMP Cell fairway woods, but it’s not so far forward that it negatively affects the clubs forgiveness, says Jose Miraflor, director of product marking for Cobra-Puma Golf. 

Like the BiO Cell drivers, the fairway woods have Cobra’s MyFly8 adjustable hosels and Smart Pad sole designs. They’re offered in two different heads, a 3-4F and a 5-7F.

• The 3-4F woods measure 43.5 inches, and adjust to five different lofts: 13, 13.5, 14.5, 15.5, and 16 degrees. They also have three different draw settings: 13.5D, 14.5D and 15.5D. Stock swing weight is D3.
• The 5-7F woods measure 43 inches, and adjust to lofts of 17, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5 and 20 degrees. They have draw settings of 17.5D, 18.5D and 19.5D. Stock swing weight is D3.

The BiO Cell hybrids share the same construction as the BiO Cell fairway woods, with 17-4 stainless steel bodies and high-strength 455 Carpenter steel faces. They are offered in three different heads with MyFly8 adjustable hosels and Smart Pad sole designs:

• 2-3H Lofts: 16, 16.5, 16.5D, 17.5, 17.5D, 18.5, 18.5 D, 19, Length: 41 inches, D2 swing weight.
• 3-4H Lofts: 19, 19.5, 19.5D, 20.5, 20.5D, 21.5, 21.5D, 22, Length: 40.25 inches , D2 swing weight.
• 4-5 Lofts: 22, 22.5, 22.5D, 23.5, 23.5D, 24.5, 24.5D, 25, Length: 39.5 inches, D2 swing weight.

The Cobra BiO Cell fairway woods and hybrids will be available at retailers on Jan. 15. The fairway woods will sell for $219, and the hybrids will cost $189. Each comes stock with a True Temper Project X PXv co-engineered shaft, available in lite, regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes.

BiO Cell Irons

Large unsupported faces, deep undercuts and a multi-material construction are all staples of a distance-driven game-improvement set of irons. But Cobra engineers took those measures to the extremes with their new BiO Cell irons, creating a set that Cobra officials hope golfers will soon know as the longest irons in golf.

The long irons (3-7) are cast from 17-4 stainless steel, and have a undercut that plunges deep into their soles. It causes the sole of the BiO Cell 4 iron to be as thin as 1.49 mm, which according to Miraflor tested the limits of just how thin Cobra could make an iron sole and still have it meet durability standards.

The deep undercut and thin iron faces, which are taller and wider than their predecessors, create the largest unsupported faces of any set of irons Cobra has ever created.

The long irons also have two 10-gram tungsten weights (one in the heel, one in the toe), which lower the center of gravity of the irons for a higher launch and increased ball speed — key ingredients for more distance. But their position in the outer-cavity ports of the irons also make the iron heads more stable on mishits, boosting forgiveness.

The more accuracy-driven short irons (8-GW) are cast from a softer 431 stainless steel, and have their tungsten weights positioned in the two inner-cavity ports on the back of the iron. That more inward positioning decreases forgiveness, but it improves feel and workability, more valued attributes for game-improvement short irons. However, both the long irons and short irons have multi-material badges adhered to the back of the irons’ extremely thin faces to help increase sound and feel.

The BiO Cell irons will be available on Jan. 15 in four colors (blue, black orange and red), and cost $699 (4-PW, GW) with True Temper’s Dynalite 85 steel shafts (regular and stiff flexes). The full iron specs are listed below (click to enlarge).

Also see the new for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Fairway Woods and the New for 2014 Cobra Bio Cell + Drivers.

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about Cobra’s new BiO Cell line.