Ping Rapture V2 Golf Driver

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Ping Rapture V2 Driver Check Price Austad's Golf		Ping Rapture V2 - Free Delivery £249 new AmericanGolf UK

The Ping Rapture V2 is the sequel to the highly successful and original Rapture that was launched in 2006. It is part of Ping’s 2009 line up of clubs and sits alongside the new Ping G10 golf driver. The new Rapture V2 is marketed as a high launching, low spin driver with maximum forgiveness – and it delivers just that.

The company has kept the slightly elongated club head shape of the original Rapture but the head is slight longer back to front. The Rapture V2 also has a new color scheme with bright lime green on the shaft and the soleplate – some love it but most think it is a little much for the mostly conservative golf club fashionists.

The previous Rapture had a composite graphite and titanium head. However, this has been replaced in the Rapture V2 with a all titanium, lightweight 460cc head with external tungsten weight pads. These weight pads place the centre of gravity low and away from the face to deliver lower spin and a high launch angle for improved distance and accuracy.

The taller face is precisely machined and plasma-welded to produce variable thicknesses. This leads to higher ball speeds for greater distance and increased MOI of around 6 percent for fantastic forgiveness on off-center hits. The height of the clubface and longer club head, gives the Rapture V2 a much larger sweet spot for tremendous ball speed on impact. The sound off the tee is powerful and solid on impact.

The loft is 9.0, 10.5, 12.0 and 13.5 degrees. The length is 45.75 inches. The shaft is a the premium Ping TFC 939D and the flex ranges from Soft R, Regular, Stiff to X-Stiff.

What the Company Says:

"Rapture V2 is a prime example of the advantages of combining materials to achieve a specific result. In this case, we wanted to produce a slightly different profile while optimizing launch and spin. The elongated shape allows us to position tungsten weight pads for reduced spin and a similar launch angle to the original Rapture." - Tony Serrano, Senior Design Engineer.

What Others Are Saying:

“Even into a breeze the Rapture V2 produced high-flying, long drives. We felt the lime green alignment aid was more distracting than necessary, but this did not take away from the high levels of forgiveness on offer.” – Golf Monthly

"The club looks great, sets up nicely and has good balance. It gives me the right kind of feedback, and the ball carries a long way." – Golf Digest

"Superb feel and performance from this no frills driver." – Today’s Golfer

Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit and Dymo2 STR8-Fit Golf Drivers

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Nike SQ Dymo Str8-FIT Driver $199.99 new Rock Bottom Golf		Nike SQ Dymo Str8-FIT Driver from $130 used 3 Balls		Nike SQ Dymo Str8-FIT Driver $299.99 new Austad's Golf		Nike Sq Dymo Str8-FIT Driver £199 new AmericanGolf UK

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The Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit and Dymo2 STR8-Fit are adjustable versions of the SQ Dymo (which stands for "dynamic MOI") and Dymo2 (pronounced “Dymo squared”). Basically, the STR8-FIT ("straight fit") system is available with a traditional rounded head (Dymo) and square version (Dymo2). Let’s first look at the clubheads before moving to the STR8-Fit system.

The Dymo and Dymo2 clubheads have Nike’s PowerBow weighting which places the center of gravity differently depending on the loft of the club – ie. it gets thicker as the loft increases from 8.5° to 14.5° to move the weight further back and to the heel for an added draw bias. In higher lofts, the center of gravity is put forward and higher for less spin and a penetrating trajectory. For lower lofts, the center of gravity is deep and low for more spin and higher trajectory on launch.

The Dymo2 golf driver has a square head built for straight and long drives, as well as great sound and optimal launch by loft (another top rated square driver is the Callaway FT-iQ driver). The Dymo’s round head is designed for workable distance and control (another top rated 2009 driver with a traditional clubhead shape is the Callaway FT-9 driver). Both Nike clubheads are made from titanium and are sized 460cc.

The STR8-Fit is essentially an adjustable hosel system that allows the player to change the lie or clubface angle to one of eight positions. Using the wrench included with the golf driver, the following can be adjusted: face angle (2 degrees closed to 2 degrees open), lie angle (58 degrees to 62 degress) and effective loft (8.5 degress to 12.5 degress). This allows the player to adjust the ball flight for a straighter drive depending on their swing or course conditions. The adjusting wrench is stored in the driver’s head cover and there is a head positioning reference wheel to help players adjust the clubhead position. The wrench actually lights up and sounds an alarm when the correct amount of torque is achieved.

The new 360 degree grip design means that there are inverted pyramids for maximum traction and grip for the left hand, and a tread pattern for comfort and feel for the right hand.

Both the Dymo and Dymo2 titanium clubheads are 460cc in size with lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and HT. The length is 45.75 inches. The shaft is a UST AXIV core shaft and is available in X, S, R, A and W.

The Company Says:

"Str8-Fit technology [which allows players to adjust clubface angle to eight different settings] is by far the most effective way to change ball flight that I've seen. All players can benefit from this technology and hit shots straighter and farther than ever." - Tom Stites, Director of Product Creation.

What Others Say:

"A good-looking club at setup. It sounds a little thud-ish, but the ball went forever." – Golf Digest

“Overall, we think that the Nike DYMO Str8 Fit is one of the best golf drivers we have hit in 2009. All of the issues we had with the 2008 version were corrected and they have a dynamic golf club on their hands this time.” – The Hackers Paradise

"Hugely impressed...superb model...clear difference in flight." – Golf Monthly

Callaway FT-9 Golf Driver

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Callaway FT-9 Same Day Shipping $399.95 new Austad's Golf		Callaway FT-9 Hot Deals from $199 used 3 Balls Golf		Callaway FT-9 Free Shipping $399.95 new GolfEtail		Callaway FT-9 Free Delivery £259 new AmericanGolf UK

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The Callaway FT-9 is the descendant of the FT-5 range of golf drivers. By looking at the design of the club head, the relationship to the FT-5 and FT-3 is obvious. However, the FT-9 differs from previous models in that the club head is longer and deeper.

The driver features Hyperbolic Face Technology which ensures the fastest ball speed possible across the complete face and this enables a larger sweet spot compared to other golf drivers. In other words, off-center hits will still travel longer distances. The larger effective hitting area is achieved by strategic hyperbolic shaping of the thickness of the face - the 'X' pattern behind the hitting area is thickest in the center, thinnest in the outer.

The Fusion Technology means that Callaway has effectively combined a carbon composite body with a titanium face cup. With the carbon-fiber composite 7 percent longer compared to the FT-5, the weighting is at its maximum at the edges of the club head to enable the center of gravity to be low and deep for stability on off-center hits and the ability to shape the shot.

The OptiFit Weighting System gives golfers to the ability to customize the center of gravity. The first choice is the Draw, which helps to promote a draw or reduce a slice or fade. The second choice is Neutral for maximum workability.

Visible External Web Weighting means that there are externally placed weights that allow the golf driver to have its centre of gravity in the optimum location to deliver the ideal, penetrative ball flight.

The head is 460cc. The lofts are 9, 10, 11 and 13 HT degrees. The face angle is 1 degree closed and the length is 45 inches. The shaft is a Fujikura Z-Com 60 and comes in light, regular or stiff.

The Tour version has lofts of 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. The face angle is 1 degree open and the length is 45 inches. The shaft is a Fujikura Z-Com Pro 65 and comes in regular, stiff and x-stiff.

The Company says:

"Performance flaws in ball speed, trajectory, sound or aesthetics are often the result of chasing one club design variable at the expense of another. Our 'Complete Inertial Design' principal factors in all design variables to produce the most balanced, highest-performing drivers possible. FT-9 is an example of this optimization." - Jeff Colton, Senior VP, R&D.

Others say:

“Composite heads often provide a mixed reaction, but the performance and looks of the FT-9 should make it an all-round winner.” – Golf Monthly

"The trampoline effect feels outstanding, and at setup this lies perfectly on the ground." – Golf Digest

“Unlike most other composite drivers, the sound was very solid and the flight of the ball was excellent.” - GolfALot

Nike SQ Sumo2 5900 | 460 cc | Lofts – 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13

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SQ SUMO 5900 by Nike

The Nike SasQuatch (SQ) Sumo2 5900 has been engineered to provide moment of inertia (MOI), volume and impact efficiency which is close to the limits set down by the USGA. The end result is a golf driver which is very straight and extremely accurate.

The SQ Sumo2 5900 is a square headed golf driver. This allows the engineers to give the club a deeper face, convex crown and to push the weight to the corners for increased ball speed. The high MOI means that the clubhead will not twist as much on off center hits and leads to straighter drives on miss hits. This is combined with a a face which multi-thickness for even more ball speed.

The Nike PowerBow weighting means that the weight has been pushed to the far corners of the square head to improve head stability and better accuracy,

The Diamana Yellow Board shaft by Mitsubishi is tour quality and weighted specifically to maximize the performance by flex.

The clubhead is 460 cc. The lofts are 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 and 13 degrees.

Nike SasQuatch (SQ) SUMO 5000 | 460 cc | 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13

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SQ SUMO 5000 by Nike

The Nike SasQuatch SQ SUMO 5000 golf driver has a more traditional shape than the SUMO2 5900 and has a deeper face. It is designed to allow golfers to shape the ball like the best players or strike it long and straight.

If the square head of the SUMO2 5900 turns you off then this golf driver is worth a look.

The SQ SUMO 5000 shape and design is the next step in the evolution of higher Moment of Inertia (MOI). A higher MOI means that the clubface will twist less on off center shots ensuring the ball will travel further and straighter. This all-titanium golf driver’s new body shape raises the MOI bar to 5000 g-cm2.

As with all Nike golf drivers, the SQ SUMO 5000 utilizes PowerBow technology to strategically place the center of gravity within the clubhead for longer and straighter drivers off the tee.

The clubhead is 460 cc in size and is all-titanium. The lofts are 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 13, 13 offset and HL.

The shaft is a Mitsubishi iDiamana Yellow Board weighted specifically to maximize the performance by flex for optimum distance and accuracy.

Nike SasQuatch Sumo2 | 460 cc | Lofts – 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 13

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SasQuatch SUMO2 by Nike

The name of the Nike SasQuatch SUMO2 golf driver stands for “SUper MOment of Inertia – Squared”. This refers to the high moment of inertia (MOI) the driver produces because of its squared shape.

The SasQuatch Sumo2 will not be everyone’s cup of tea because of the squared head which is radically different to that of other golf drivers. However, looks like this for a purpose. Using a squared shape means that the weight is transferred to the extreme heel and toe to increase the MOI to 5300 g cm2.

The 460 cc clubhead is constructed from multi-materials and has a composite crown as a weight saving measure. Overall, the driver is designed to deliver superior forgiveness and greater distance.

The SasQuatch SUMO2 utilizes Nike’s PowerBow and Max Back Center of Gravity (CG) to push the CG deeper and lower into the clubhead for better forgiveness, accuracy and distance.

The Sumo2 sister golf driver - the SasQuatch SUMO - is an all titanium and more traditional looking club.

The lofts are 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 13 degrees. The shaft is a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana.