No less an authority than Harvey Penick said that a heavy club is the one training aid that every golfer should have. Here’s the problem: today’s marketplace is full of training clubs in varying lengths, weights, and flexes all promising wonderful benefits, from improved balance and tempo to longer drives. So which one should you buy?

We’ve brought together some of the best-known and newest heavy clubs for a heavyweight slugfest. So let’s get ready to rumble! [READ MORE]

“I hate adidas golf shoes” – me, 2 years ago.

I had tried on a few pair. I was even stupid enough to convince myself that a pair I liked (except for the part where they made my feet hurt) would be fine once I got them on the course (they weren’t). With a broad selection of good-looking, non-blistering shoes available from other brands, I was finished with adidas. I swore at them, then I swore them off, and then I was done.

Fast-forward to January of this year and the FedEx guy is dropping off another box (a very huge box) of adidas shoes. The new adizero golf shoe shipped suspended in what I still say is a promotional fish tank, designed to convey the message that the adizero is so close to weightless it basically floats. At least that’s what I got out of it anyway. [READ MORE]

Straight to the point, Ping has really nailed it with the Scottsdale TR line this year. There is great variety in the line, both in head shapes and shaft options. The adjustable shaft may be a short-run novelty, or it may be something that changes the putter market, we will need to watch and see on that one. Huge kudos to the Scottsdale TR’s insert though. It almost bagged one major victory already this year. I would not be surprised if a Scottsdale TR gets one (come on Westy). The price is right on these as well. The non-adjustable shaft models can be had for about $150, with the adjustable shaft setting you back a couple of extra Hamiltons. It’s a great looking, great rolling putter at a solid price point. Well done Ping. [READ MORE]

Last year was my first complete season exclusively playing a casual fixed-spike golf shoe. In play were a new pair of the original 2010 TRUE Linkswear Tour shoes, which, by the way, are still my favorite shoes in golf for a variety of reasons. There is just something about being able to drive to the course and step out of the car ready to go in your golf shoes that makes the game more enjoyable. [READ MORE]

Nippon has long been a favorite iron shaft among those in the know, carrying a tremendous reputation for tight tolerances and great feel. So why aren’t they more prevalent? One reason is certainly a lack of marketing, but another big reason was the lack of options for “better players.”

With the addition of the Modus3 Tour 130, there’s now a Nippon shaft for absolutely everyone. While some might flinch at the price, I think that the feel and the unmatched tolerances make Nippons well worth the money. Whether you’re upgrading some old heads or getting fit for a new set of irons, make sure Nippon is on your list of “Must Try” items. [READ MORE]