Will You Tend The Flag For Me?

photos sent by: phil rodgers

Looks Like A Ping, Putts Like A Plop

$8 Million Out Of A Potting Shed…Now That’s A First

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a story of a business man starting a multi-million dollar company out of a garage…I would have like $12 or $13 bucks. That story is old…but this is new…this guy did it out of a potting shed?

Jake Schimdt…ever heard of him? Maybe not…but maybe you remember Plop Putters from back in the 90’s. The last time Jake Schmidt introduced a unique putter, he had the likes of Eli Callaway and Zevo Golf knocking on his door for the rights to it. He eventually went on to sell Plop Golf, which he turned into an 8 million dollar company, back in 1996 to Zevo Golf. Still doesn’t jar your memory? Well… I am sure Jake will be glad to in 2009…because he and his new Plop putters are making a come back. And I must admit the new putter looks interesting to the guys at MGS.

Sounds Simple…But Still A First

Basically his concept sounded simple…but as far as we know no one else was doing it. It was about having a “Completely Balanced Putter”. Yeah we know…lots of putters are balanced. But Plop putters are unique in the fact that they are balanced from front-to-back and side-to-side…pretty interesting. But back in the 90’s the only way Schmidt could achieve this, was to make the putter center shafted. Which at the time was all the craze…but now golfers realize that a center shafted flatstick is not suited for all golfers. (article on: how putter neck designs effect your putting)

Well, the new Plop putter incorporates the same technology as it did in the 90’s, but in a much cooler way. You see the putter actually looks like a heel shafted putter…but looks can and are deceiving in this case. That is because the putter is actually center shafted. You have to follow the path of the hosel into the back of the cavity in order to see the inner workings of how this is achieved. Now we actually have a putter designer on staff, which has actually done some designs for a major OEM putter company) and he would love to challenge Plop on this one…that’s because the laws of physics just does not seem to be meshing with what he is seeing. But that challenge will have to wait until the 2009 PGA Show, because that is the first time we will get a chance to actually putt with it. And I am sure Jake will be up to the challenge.

P.S.

It will retail as the highest price putter on the market for 2009…at $500. That could be a tough purchase for many wives to swallow in ‘09…but nevertheless we wish Jake and Plop the best of luck. Because we truly commend the fact that he didn’t do what almost every other putter company does when they are trying to establish themself…and that’s design the 507th version of the Ping Anser. So…Kudos to you Plop!

Related Articles

- Different Putter Necks For Different Putters

- Want To Be A Putter Designer?

RH Plop Putter US $9.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Nov-23-2008 19:46:27 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Titleist & Callaway Both Release Statements…What Is This, Hollywood?

Can Titleist Save The Pro V1 Brand?

If your a regular at our MGS blog you’re already aware that Callaway won a monsterous court battle against it’s golf ball rival Titleist a little over a week ago. If you’re new here…feel free to get yourself up to speed (past article). We won’t bore you with the court reported details…but basically the ruling was quite the smack-down on Titleist. I mean think about it…the Pro V1 is what comes to mind nowadays when you hear the name Titleist.

Titleist…”You Just Don’t Make Them Like You Used To”

And this means that they will not be allowed to sell the most popular golf ball of all time ever again…well atleast in its original form. You see Titleist has already come up with a replacement that they will continue to call the Pro V1 to the public…they would be morons not to. But it is NOT the same ball. “In September 2008, we converted production of the existing Pro V1 models so that they are outside of the patents in question”, said Joe Nauman, chief legal counsel for Titleist parent Acushnet Company. Did you know this…pretty interesting huh?

Titleist Hires Britney Spears Publicist? Seriously…Maybe They Should

Titleist was first to send out a press release in an attempt to minimize the damages (read here) although I think the damage might already be done. But…you never know…they might hire Britney’s publicist…I mean if they can get her back on top then saving the Pro V1’s career is a piece of cake.

Callaway’s Response To Titleist Press Release:

“You may have heard about the recent federal court injunction barring the sale of Titleist Pro V1 golf balls in the United States beginning in 2009. There are a lot of questions out there, and we want to give you the straight story from our perspective. What does Callaway Golf have to do with this injunction and what does it mean to you, the consumer? In a nutshell, we believe the court victory described below shows that the Pro V1 golf balls were built on Callaway Golf technology. In fact, after hearing all the evidence, a federal court has ordered Titleist to stop selling the infringing golf balls effective January 1, 2009. Read on for the details.

What is the injunction? This is a legal ruling that validates and protects Callaway Golf’s proprietary, patented golf ball technology. A federal court has issued a permanent injunction to block the manufacture and sale of infringing Titleist Pro V1 family of golf balls by Acushnet and by participating retailers. As a result, the infringing Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls cannot be sold by retailers in the United States after Jan. 1, 2009. At the request of Callaway Golf, the federal court has allowed professional golfers to play current and past model Pro V1 golf balls through the end of the current calendar year.

When did this happen, and how long is it in effect? The ruling, issued Nov. 10 from the United States District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, grants Callaway Golf’s request for a permanent injunction to stop the sale of Acushnet’s infringing line of Titleist Pro V1 family of golf balls. In an earlier concession in the case, Acushnet admitted that it infringed our patents. In its November 10 ruling the Court also rejected Acushnet’s request to overturn a December 2007 jury verdict that found Callaway Golf’s golf ball patents were valid.

Why does this matter to Callaway Golf? Callaway Golf has some 1,130 U.S. patents and more than 2,100 worldwide patents; in 2007 alone, the Company was granted 94 U.S. patents. Callaway Golf vigorously defends its technology and inventions against infringement.

“Callaway Golf has invested millions of dollars in research and development to create innovative products for millions of golfers around the world, and has protected those products with one of the broadest patent portfolios in golf,” said Steve McCracken, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Callaway Golf. “We are very pleased with the Court’s decision which will stop the sale of these infringing Pro V1 golf balls. We believe in and encourage vigorous competition in business and on the golf course, because it helps create better products and better golfers, but we also believe in playing by the rules.”

What happens now? Acushnet recently announced that it has converted its production facilities to make an interim version of its existing Pro V1 golf balls that, Acushnet asserts, do not infringe the Callaway Golf patent in issue in the current lawsuit. Callaway Golf is examining those interim golf balls to determine if they violate any Callaway Golf patents. Acushnet has also announced it will appeal the trial court’s rulings.”

We Want Your Opinion (Leave Us A Comment)

There is a lot of hoopla going on right now surrounding this case…and will be for years to come. So, what do you think?

1. Do you think this is a smart play (Callaway’s Press Release) or is their tone just annoying and childi
2. Can Titleist save the Pro V1 Brand?
3. Think this is one of the only reasons Callaway purchased Spalding/Top-Flite in the first place?
4. Patents and the R & D that go into them are expensive and you should enforce them no matter what the costs?
5. Has this effected the way you might purchase your golf balls from now on?
6. Don’t care at all and will continue to play Titleist balls?

Related Articles:

- TOP-SECRET! - The Titleist Pro V2

- Spy Photos - Titleist Vokey TVD 60 Prototype

Assorted Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Used Golf Balls US $10.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 13:52:32 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

TaylorMade 11…Nike 11…Titliest 10

So…you take a look at this list and go…TaylorMade-Nike-TaylorMade-Titleist…not too many surprises. And you are right for the most part…but…there are a few interesting tidbits that we see.

• Titleist thanked their lucky stars that their new Titleist 909 Series driver was a big hit on tour, it picked up wins in 5 of the last 15 events. Before its release Titleist staffers were playing with a driver that is almost 3 years old (905R) because of their disgust for the dud of a driver the 907 series. Makes it tough to sell a driver when your staff don’t even want it.
• Adams Golf and one of MGS’s favorite drivers for 2008 (Adams 9015D) picked up an honor no one else on this list can claim. That award is “Only Driver To Win Without Paying A Player To Swing Me Award”. Congrats guys!
• This list makes you realize that unless you have some serious bankroll to spend on getting players to play your sticks…then this is a tough one to crack.
• Callaway should have a better showing in 2009…shouldn’t be tough to do…because 4 wins give them the “Last Place Amongst The Big Boys Award”.
• And that if it was not for Padriag Harrington Wilson Golf might not ever make this list…no seriously EVER. How much are they paying this guy? And if they have enough money to keep him then why aren’t they paying other good golfers?

Winning Drivers For 2008 Season:

Totals: TaylorMade 11, Nike 11, Titleist 10, Cleveland 5, Callaway 4, Cobra 4, Wilson 2, Adams 1

1. Daniel Chopra - Mercedes-Benz Championship: TaylorMade r7 425
2. K.J. Choi - Sony Open in Hawaii: Nike SQ Sumo 5000
3. D.J. Trahan - Bob Hope Chrysler Classic: Titleist 905R
4. Tiger Woods - Buick Invitational: Nike SQ Tour
5. J.B. Holmes - FBR Open: King Cobra 454 Comp
6. Steve Lowery - AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am: Cleveland HiBORE XL
7. Phil Mickelson - Northern Trust Open: Callaway Golf FT-5
8. Tiger Woods - WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship: Nike SQ Tour
9. Brian Gay - Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun: TaylorMade r7 425
10. Ernie Els - Honda Classic: Callaway FT-i
11. Sean O’Hair - PODS Championship: TaylorMade Burner
12. Tiger Woods - Arnold Palmer Invitational: Nike SQ Tour
13. Geoff Ogilvy - WGC-CA Championship: Cobra Speed Pro D
14. Greg Kraft - Puerto Rico Open: Titleist 907D2
15. Andres Romero - Zurich Classic of New Orleans: TaylorMade Tour Burner
16. Johnson Wagner - Shell Houston Open: Titleist 905R
17. Trevor Immelman - Masters Tournament: Nike SQ Sumo 5000
18. Boo Weekley - Verizon Heritage: Cleveland HiBore XL
19. Adam Scott - EDS Byron Nelson Championship: Titleist 905R
20. Anthony Kim - Wachovia Championship: Nike SQ Sumo 5000
21. Sergio Garcia - The Players Championship: TaylorMade Tour Burner
22. Ryuji Imada - AT&T Classic: Titleist 905R
23. Phil Mickelson - Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: Callaway FT-5
24. Kenny Perry - The Memorial Tournament: TaylorMade Tour Burner
25. Justin Leonard - Stanford St. Jude Championship: Nike SQ SUMO 5000
26. Tiger Woods - U.S. Open Championship: Nike SQ Tour
27. Stewart Cink - Travelers Championship: Nike SQ Sumo2 Tour
28. Kenny Perry - Buick Open: TaylorMade Tour Burner
29. Anthony Kim - AT&T National: Nike SQ SUMO 5000
30. Kenny Perry - John Deere Classic: TaylorMade Tour Burner
31. Padraig Harrington - British Open Championship: Wilson Staff Dd6+
32. Richard S. Johnson - U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee: Adams Insight 9015D
33. Chez Reavie - RBC Canadian Open: Titleist 909D2
34. Vijay Singh - WGC-Bridgestone Invitational: Cleveland HiBORE XL
35. Parker McLachlin - Legends Reno-Tahoe Open: Titleist 909D2
36. Padraig Harrington - PGA Championship: Wilson Staff Dd6+
37. Carl Pettersson - Wyndham Championship: Nike SQ Sumo2 Tour
38. Vijay Singh - The Barclays: Cleveland HiBore XL
39. Vijay Singh - Deutsche Bank Championship: Cleveland HiBore XL
40. Camilo Villegas - BMW Championship: King Cobra L4V
41. Will MacKenzie - Viking Classic: TaylorMade r7 425
42. Camilo Villegas - The Tour Championship: King Cobra L4V
43. Dustin Johnson - Turning Stone Resort Championship: TaylorMade Tour Burner
44. Zach Johnson - Valero Texas Open: Titleist 909D2
45. Marc Turnesa - Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open: Titleist 909D2
46. Cameron Beckman - Frys.com Open: Callaway Hyper X Tour
47. Ryan Palmer - Ginn sur Mer Classic: TaylorMade Tour Burner TP
48. Davis Love III - Children’s Miracle Network Classic: Titleist 909D3

NEW ADAMS A4 INSIGHT TECH PROTOTYPE 9015D 10.5* REGULAR US $239.99 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 13:53:12 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

by Jaacob Bowden

Jaacob Bowden is a Professional Golfer who has hit an venue record 421-yard drive to win a Qualifier for the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships. He has helped thousands of every day golfers hit their drives farther and shoot lower scores through his Swing Man Golf Online Training Community website. To find out more about how he can help you with your distance, visit Swing Man Golf today.

It Is Actually Pretty Easy

I assume the answer is yes, but how would you like 30 yards RIGHT NOW? Although this may seem impossible, it is actually quite feasible. The answer is found in the equipment you are playing. You see, using both a ball and a driver that fit your particular swing and swing style is like being fit for a pair of shoes. Of course you could complete a race in any old shoe of almost any size, but I bet you would be even faster if you were wearing a size that fits you, a type of shoe that is made for racing, and even a certain brand or model of shoe that suits your particular needs.

As an example, one time I was testing two similar looking drivers out on the course that differed in length, loft, and weight. Since the course was not crowded, I could hit two balls on each hole…or one with each driver. Over the course of the round, I found that even though they looked and felt pretty similar, I was literally hitting one driver 50 yards farther on average than the other. Instead of coming in to some greens with a 5-iron after my tee shot with the first driver, I was coming in to the same greens with a pitching wedge by using the other driver. You can imagine how much easier the round was with the second driver. Not only was I hitting it longer, but I was actually hitting it equally as accurate too because it was more optimized for my particular swing when it came to things like swing speed, launch angle, and spin rate.

Testimonial:

“I am still a little in shock at the quick results but here goes, (These speeds are average speed that I made solid contact, not top speed)
Monday the 16th, 98-100 MPH, 5 days later, Friday the 20th. 110-112 MPH.
Not only that, but Jaacob, when I let go of the tension, the ball flight was dead straight. I am hitting the ball to areas of the range I never even new were there. This after just one week!”
- Stephen P, Senior Golfer, single-digit handicap

Wrong Loft MAJOR Factor

Although there are a multitude of factors to analyze, one of the big things you can look at to make sure your driver is optimized for you is your driver’s loft. You see, the loft plays a big factor in how high the shot goes and how much back spin it has on it. To get the most amount of total distance (carry distance plus roll), you need to be using a loft that helps produce both a certain launch angle and certain back spin rate. A shot hit too high stays in the air a long time, but doesn’t roll when it lands. A shot hit too low rolls a long way, but is not in the air very long. You also need some back spin to help a ball stay airborne, but too much spin causes a lot of friction in the air and slows it down…plus extra spin also limits the amount of roll that the ball would get once it hits the ground.

LEARN MORE SWING MAN GOLF ONLINE TRAINING COMMUNITY

Launch Monitor Optimal Launch Angles

To determine if you are hitting in an optimal range, go to a store like Golfsmith, a custom club building shop, etc and make a few swings on what is called a launch monitor. Basically it’s just a machine that can look at your swing and determine a whole bunch of objective information about what is happening during your drives, and usually the people that have one will let you make some swings for free. Make a few swings to get some general data for yourself. Pay attention to your average swing speed, average launch angle, and average spin rate. Based on this data, you’ll know whether or not you might be better off with a higher or lower lofted driver. Remember that the higher the loft of your driver, the higher the launch angle and spin rate will be - and the lower the driver loft, the lower the launch angle and spin rate. Here are some rough numbers I go by when picking out the loft:

• If swing speed is between 70-90 mph, try a loft that will get you an 16-18 degree launch angle and 3000-3800 rpm spin rate.
• If swing speed is between 90-110 mph, try a loft that will get you an 13-16 degree launch angle and 2300-3000 rpm spin rate.
• If swing speed is between 110-130 mph, try a loft that will get you an 10-13 degree launch angle and 1900-2300 rpm spin rate.

Note that the lower your swing speed, the higher you need to hit the ball and more spin is necessary. This is why some people hit their 3-woods farther than their drivers. A person swinging 80 mph simply doesn’t have the speed to hit the ball high enough with a 9-10 degree driver, for example. Their driver distance would possibly be better served by hitting something like a 15-16 degree driver (and yes, they exist - Tom Wishon’s 730CL is a good one).

A Golf Ball Alone…Gave Me 30 More Yards!

Also, you may not realize the importance of it, but picking out the right ball for your swing can make a huge difference on accuracy and distance as well. For my particular swing, the Titleist ProV1x is the most accurate ball of the top 52 brands or so. However, if I was interested in pure distance, the Top Flite D2 goes 30 yards farther for me. This also further explains why you should always use the same brand of ball during a round of golf. Even a 10-yard distance difference between balls can mean the difference between being in the bunker and on the green.

Testimonials:

“I have been at it for a little over 3 weeks and have seen at least a 10-20 yd improvement with most of drives!”
- Anthony K

“I have only one word : GREAT!”
- Phillippe B

“…your program is working for me, I’m way more consistent, longer, and confident thanks again.”
- Edgardo E

Golf Ball Fitting Software

When you are visiting your local club fitter, ask if he/she has GolfWorks Ball Fitting software. If not, don’t worry, you can buy a home version of the software for about $10 from AdvanceGolfSolutions (Call To Order 1-330-815-2501) . AdvanceGolfSolutions created a program that compares the leading brands of balls on the market. Based on the information that you input, you can chose a ball for yourself based on the best combination of accuracy and distance for you.

You can also try our GolfBallSelector.com. They are getting some major press right now in many of the popular golf magazines. The fitting is $19.95 but is all interactive and can be completed right on the web.

Try both of these things out. You may already be using a good driver loft and golf ball for your swing, however, as you can see there is a major potential for costing yourself a lot of distance off the tee by using equipment that does not fit your game - distance that you could have in your bag right now.

LEARN MORE SWING MAN GOLF ONLINE TRAINING COMMUNITY

Brought To You By: PutterPlating.com:

Paint Fill Your Putter In 4 Easy Steps!

Changing the paint fill on my golf clubs is something I have always done. It is my desire to have clubs that look different from what everyone else has in their bag. Paint filling a putter is a relatively easy task to accomplish (4 easy steps!) and is low cost. At PutterPlating.com I have been refinishing putters for over 10 years and have tried many ways to paint fill the engravings. The method I am going to show you is the easiest I have found. It can be done on irons, drivers, fairway woods, and putters.

The putter being used is one that I designed while on paternity leave after the birth of my twin daughters in January. It showcases the nickel finish and engraving that I offer. I don’t normally use pink paint on my clubs but felt it is appropriate since the engravings being paint filled are my daughters names.

Put on your rubber gloves and eye protection. I didn’t use gloves in the pictures because it was distracting from the steps being demonstrated. I highly recommend using all the necessary safety gear when using acetone.

Most fingernail polish remover has acetone as an ingredient. So, fingernail polish remover can be used in place of the acetone. I use acrylic paint because I have found that it is more durable, comes in more colors, dries faster, water will clean the brushes, and it is non-toxic. I have also found that enamel paint can be ruined by some oils used on putters to prevent rust and protect finishes. Ok…let’s get started!

Step 1 - Remove The Old Paint

Dip a small section of the towel in the acetone. Rub the engravings to remove the paint fill. This may take a few attempts. For hard to remove paint, you can pour small amounts of the acetone and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. You should then be able to remove the rest of the paint using the towel method.

Step 2 - Make Sure The Putter Is Completely Dry

Use a dry portion of the towel and wipe the areas to be paint filled. Acetone evaporates pretty quickly so there might not be much to wipe off.

Step 3 - Applying The Paint

Choose the desired paint color(s). A paint brush for each color is highly recommended. Apply the paint generously to the engravings without worrying about going outside the lines. The excess will be removed in the next step. Try to avoid air bubbles. They can be removed using a sweeping motion of the brush through the painted engraving. Let the paint dry for at least 30 minutes. Clean the brushes in tap water and dry them after they have been cleaned.

Step 4 - Removing The Excess Paint

Dip the small pieces of paper towel in the acetone. Using a circular motion, rub the paper towel over the painted areas to remove the excess. Do small areas at a time, using a new piece of paper towel with each area. After you have wiped the whole area, use a new piece of paper towel with a smaller amount of acetone and go back over the engraving to ensure that all the excess paint has been removed. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for each layer of color. More layers makes the paint fill more durable. You can then go over all of the new paint fill with a clear coat.

Supplies needed:

• Putter with engravings or stampings (Various prices and various places to purchase)
• Rubber gloves ($.50 a piece at Target)
• Acrylic Paint ($3.00 a bottle at any hobby or craft store)
• Paint brushes ($0.75 a piece at any hobby or craft store)Towel ($1.00 at Target)
• Small pieces of paper towel ($.50 a roll paper towel at Target)
• Acetone or fingernail polish remover ($2.50 for a small bottle at any Home/Hardware Store)
• Tap Water (Free)
• About $10.00 if you use 2 paint colors

Your Done! - Finished Putter

At PutterPlating.com I have been personalizing and refinishing putters for over 10 years. I love the challenge of taking a well used putter and returning it to near new condition. I do all that I can to remove all dings and surface imperfections prior to the new finish application. View Gallery

Custom Finishes Offered at PutterPlating.com:

• satin nickel
• black oxide
• oil brown
• 24k gold
• and bead blasting for stainless.

New Finish Available!

PutterPlating.com has developed a new dark finish for stainless steel as well. It allows for the mill marks and other surface characteristics to show through instead of being covered up as happens when the black oxide finish is applied.

If You Can Imagine It…PutterPlating.com Can Make It!

I can do all variations of engravings. If it can be put on a piece of paper in black and white then it can be engraved into metal. The machining that I offer includes milling, making new necks for putters, sound slots, making new inserts, and custom made putters. I also offer welding. I value quality over quantity when it comes to my work.

For More Info Contact:

Kevin Colbert
PutterPlating.com
(612) 386-6414

Related Articles:

- DIY - Build A Putting Green For Under $250

- “How To Design Your Own Golf Product”

Golf Groover announces sale of it’s 100,000th groove sharpener

Put Some Grooves Back in That ‘Ol ButterKnife

Most of us aren’t good enough ball strikers to wear a consistent pattern like you see on all the pro’s wedges…okok we know you can…but…many golfers can’t. So for all the rest of us that use the WHOLE face we say to you, “learn how to get your money’s worth out of your wedges….and use all the wedge”.  Actually we are just kidding, try to become better and make a small pattern.

Well, whether you’re a great ball striker or a guy that swings like a righty trying to play lefty…you have all owned an iron or a wedge that has grooves worn down to the point it is better off used as a butterknife then a sandsave weapon…so what do you do with it? Well in the past you took it to the local golf shop an got yourself a crisp $5 bill for trade-in to use towards a shiny new one.

Growing In Popularity

Well the Golf Groover and about 32 other people that have jumped on the “golf club groove sharpening” bandwagon say those days are over. And from the looks of all the options we had sent to us to try they might be right. I never thought that there would be so many garage tinkerers interested in refurbishing a $50 wedge. Well then again, in today’s economy anyway to save a buck is understandable. And I really think all the options we tried, actually do work. But how well?

Groove Sharpeners Tested:

1. GolfGroover.com (Cheaper On EBAY)

• Quality = B+
  
• Did It Work = A-
  
• Price = C-
• How Easy = B+
  
• OVERALL = B

Comments - Like the handle…makes it easier to manage. Great to use even as just a groove cleaner and not a sharpener on the course during play

2. GrooveSharpener.com (Cheaper On EBAY)

• Quality = C
  
• Did It Work = B+
  
• Price = B
  
• How Easy = B-
  
• OVERALL = B-

Comments - It worked well…just don;t like the fact it does not have a handle. It can slip and scratch the face of your clubs. You can use tape to cover but just takes longer. Overall though it worked well.

3. IZZO Groove Sharpener

• Quality = C-
  
• Did It Work = B+
  
• Price = A+
  
• How Easy = B
  
• OVERALL = B

Comments - This one is the cheapest by a long shot only costs $9.95 compared to $19.95-$29.95 for the others. It worked for us fine but I don’t think it will hold up for more then a season or two. But…if you need something unique to get someone for Christmas this might be the one.

Callaway Wins Permanent Injunction Against Titleist And The Pro V1

A couple weeks ago we wrote a post referring to what the Titleist Pro V2 might look like in 2009 or 2010. What happened to the Pro V1 you ask?  Well Callaway sued Titleist, saying that the Pro V1 infringed on some of their golf ball patents….and they won!  The case actually began back in 2006 but their have been all kinds of hoop jumping going on to delay this one as long as possible.  And if we ran Titlesit we would be doing the same thing.  What it looks like is that they knew what the result would be but were buying themselves some time to develop the next big golf ball rockstar.

Will The Real Pro V1 Please Stand Up

The Titleist Pro V1 as you know it will go extinct at the end of the 2008 season.  So…will you be able to still get them?  Well here is the interesting point that many of you will never hear I am sure from Titleist.  That is, that even if you have bought Pro V1 balls recently you most likely don;t have the original ball in your bag.  This is because back in September of 2008 they changed the way they were made in order to get around the infringement of the Callaway golf ball patents…interesting huh?  We thought so too.

“We are very pleased with today’s decision which will stop the sale of these infringing Pro V1 golf balls,” Steve McCracken, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Callaway said in a statement.

Another Appeal…Yawnnnnn

Of course, Titleist plans to appeal the decision…don’t ask us why though.  If you have already bought yourself time and changed the patent why disgrace yourself anymore…it just gives us another opportunity to write about how you stole Callaway’s golf ball patents.  Chalk it up as lesson learned…live to fight another day.  And from what we hear they plan on launching the next Pro V ball in the first quarter of 2009 anyway.

Related Articles:

- TOP-SECRET! - The Titleist Pro V2

- Spy Photos - Titleist Vokey TVD 60 Prototype

Titleist ProV1 Pro V1 Golf Balls 5 DOZEN FREE SHIPPING! US $199.95 End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 11:40:39 PST Buy it now | Add to watch list

By: Todd Sones
Coutour Golf

“80% OF GOLFERS HAVE THE WRONG PUTTER!”

Did The Last Putter You Bought Make You A Better Golfer?

Putter manufacturers are in the business of selling putters, and manufacturers know if they actually come up with a putter that really improves a players skills, their business would be negatively impacted. This is because people would stop buying new putters.

Always In Search Of A Better Putter

The best way for major manufacturers to continue business growth is to come up with a “story” that sounds good enough to sell a putter that actually doesn’t work. Because when they come out with a new story the next year, they want to sell the same player again. The result is that most players end up with over 20 putters in their garage…while still continuing the “search” for that magical one.

If It Works For Them…Then It Will Work For Me Too

How manufacturers convince the consumer that putters work is mostly through the PGA Tour. If a company can get one of their sponsored players to game one of their flatsticks and that golfer happens to win, especially a known player in a major, sales go through the roof!

Some great examples are: (The oversize putter that Jack Nicklaus used to win the ’86 masters, or the Odyssey Rossi that Faldo used to win the Masters, or while we’re at it, the Seemore putter that Zach Johnson used to win the 2007 Masters as well.) All these companies experienced huge sales increases after those victories. The average player sees a tour player win with a putter, and they assume that it will do the same for them.

One-Size (DOES NOT) Fit All

Here is the problem: Tour players who are successful in putting know exactly what specifications in length, swingweight, lie and loft work for them. Their putters are customized to fit their needs. When amateur players buy putters off the shelf, they are most likely not getting a putter that is properly set up for them. At first they have confidence in their new putter only because they haven’t had enough time to miss putts. Once some time passes and they miss a few putts, their ears are listening for the next “story” and putter that will magically fix their putting woes.

80% Of Golfers Have The Wrong Putter!

As a teacher of the game, my success is not based on volume of putter sales every year, it’s based on the number of shots I can reduce a player’s score. At my golf school in Chicago, I have found that approximately 80% of the participants that attend our shortgame school had putters that did not allow them to set up properly to their putts, forcing them into an improper set-up position causing poor results.
There are four main elements to fitting a putter.

1. Length - The first and most important is length. The length of the putter affects the player’s posture and distance from the ball. When the player has the correct length putter, they can setup in the proper posture as well as the correct distance from the ball.
2. SwingWeight - The next aspect of putter fitting is swingweight. Swingweight is the feel of the putter head as it swings back and forth during the stroke. Great players have an equal backstroke and follow-through while maintaining a consistent tempo. Whenever a player grips down or cuts a putter down, it alters the swingweight. For every inch you change the length of a putter, you alter the swing by six points. The bottom line is that when you make a putter shorter, the putterhead should be heavier and when you make a putter longer, the putterhead should be lighter. Another problem in the industry is that manufacturers use the same putterhead for all putters because it saves them money and increases their profit margin. For the most part, 35” is the industry standard, which means putters sold at 34” and 33” are not actually balanced in swingweight.
3. Lie - The other two aspects of putter fitting are loft and lie. As far as lie angle, what we have found through our school is that when a player has the correct length putter coupled with the proper posture, the industry standard of 71° fits nearly 95% of players.
4. Loft - With loft, what we have found is that when players learn to set the shaft perpendicular to the ground to just slightly forward (1 degree) 4 degrees of loft puts them best over the golf ball.

Coutour Golf

When I founded Coutour Golf, it was because I wanted a solution to the problem inherent of an industry more interested in selling more putters to players they don’t need.

The idea behind a Coutour custom putter is to have a putter that is correct in all 4 areas (length, swingweight, loft, lie) so that a player can learn to set-up to the ball in the correct posture while standing the right distance from the ball.
The other reason Coutour is primarily different from the industry is that each putter model is precision milled in three different weights of 335, 350 and 365 grams. Although we can make any putter length in whatever gram weight the player desires, we suggest the following:

• 34 ¼” and longer at 335 grams
• 33-34” long at 350 grams
• 32 ¾ and shorter at 365 gram

There are two ways to get a Coutour putter. Players can go to our website at www.coutourgolf.com and search out a certified putter fitter. Or, if there is not a certified fitter near enough, players can go through our online purchase fitting system in which they enter their height and measurement of knuckles to ground , the online system will suggest a length and weight. The player has the ability to accept or alter what is suggested and then choose their desired model as well as confirm the loft and lie angle.

FREE Video For MyGolfSpy Readers

For more help in the set-up process, MGS readers can watch a video of set-up and stroke fundamentals here.

P.S.

The bottom line is that when a player finally gets a custom putter that allows them to set-up correctly to the ball, they can actually start developing a putting stance that gives them consistent repeatable results. We hope that once people are properly fit to a Coutour putter, it is the last putter they need because they start getting the results they have always been searching for.

Todd Sones
Founder
Coutour Golf
www.coutourgolf.com



2009 Cobra S9 Pro S Driver (Sole)

Cobra S9 Driver (Face)

Coming To A Store Near You (Feb 2009)

The new Cobra S9-1 Pro drivers will start shipping to golf retailers mid February.  The Cobra S9-1 Pro D (deep face) and Pro S is designed for (and with) PGA staff players and high ball speed players.

Cobra’s R&D departments primary design goal:  Maximize COR to promote higher ball speeds and more consistent ball flight across the entire face area.

Technology:

• Large face with Dual Rhombus Face Insert Technology maximizes ball speeds across face
• Lighter overall club weight and 45.5″ length further increase clubhead speed/ball speed
• Low/back CG for improved launch, spin and ball flight
• Frequency Tuned:  All new head design combined with internal crown rib geometry provides superior feel and crisp, pleasing sound
• Updated dimple design in crown enhances view at address
• Aldila DVS-HL high launch shafts on F and M Speed models, Matrix Ozik Xcon Pro on Speed Pro models

Related Articles:

- 2009 Cobra L5V Goes On Sale Today!
- SPOTTED! - 2009 Cobra L5V Driver

*TOUR ISSUE* KING COBRA SS 350 7.5* DRIVER X-FLEX *NICE US $74.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 17:20:07 PST Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list