Speed = Distance

Chicks dig the long ball!

In 1998 the USA set the COR limit for clubfaces on woods at .830.  In case you slept through Physics class...

COR is a measure of the efficiency of the transfer of momentum between two colliding bodies. 

Cough cough... layman's terms?

Basically the "spinglike" effect a ball has off the clubface when struck.

So since all golf manufacturers are on the same playing field with COR, companies have turned to other advances in materials, controlling launch & spin, center of gravity, etc.

They may turn out drivers like Charlie Sheen goes through prostitutes, but credit goes to TaylorMade with bringing us speed = distance advertising and product first.  In 2007 they introduced their Burner line with Superfast technology.  Basically, if it's longer & lighter, you'll swing it faster.  Every year since then they've come out with at least one new addition to this line.  I will be reviewing their newest Superfast 2.0 model in the near future. 

In the mean time many other Companies have jumped on board.  Adams Golf is on their 4th or 5th generation of aerodynamic design on driver heads. More speed through less resistance, not necessarily driven by length & weight of the club.  

In 2010 we started to see more ultra-lightweight golf shafts than ever before and more golf shaft companies are heading in that direction.  Grip manufacturers even started producing ultra light grips for those shafts.

However in 2011, Cleveland Golf has taken this to an entirely new level. Their newest line that will debut in February will feature 3 new lines of drivers.  Each driver will have its own weight class.  The amazing thing is that their XL270 model is nearly 100 grams lighter than persimmon woods of yesteryear and 40 grams lighter than the aforementioned (for you Brian Moore) Burner released in 2007.  The weight class you choose will be determined by your ability and if you desire “maximum head speed” (their words), “distance & control”, or “penetrating workability”.

I’ll be reviewing these new Cleveland woods next week with the rest of their new line.  I’ll leave you with this… at what cost does going lighter & longer come with?  Certainly control as evident in how you choose your weight class in the new Cleveland line. 

You might need to ask yourself.  Is my next driver purchase to impress the chicks OR is it to lower my scores?

Until next time…

Fairways & Greens.