SirShanksAlot
Wow, so far it has been a very busy fall as the new product launches just keep coming along. We have already seen new clubs from Ping, TaylorMade, Nike, and Mizuno but there are still many more to come before next summer hits. We thought we would take the opportunity to list some of the new products that are still on the way. Some we have talked about in depth and some not so much but here they are…
TaylorMade – they have already released a couple of new irons to the market but the clubs that everyone is really talking about are the new R7’s. There are going to be two different models; the R7 425 is 425 cc’s and has four interchangeable weights. This driver will have 28 grams of weight to move around as opposed to 24 grams in the current model. The R7 460 will be 460 cc’s and has two interchangeable weights. Both drivers have a new Fujikura shaft as the stock offering. An R7 425 TP model is also in the works. These drivers are scheduled to be released in January but we have heard rumblings that there could be an announcement soon for an earlier release date.
Nike – has also made some big splashes already with their new SasQuatch driver, one of the most talked about clubs of the year. But Nike is not done yet. They have a new iron, the Slingshot Tour now up on the website www.nikegolf.com. This club should be available soon. They are also working on a Slingshot hybrid club that will be available in Spring 2006.
Wilson – they reintroduced the Wilson Staff brand last year to some moderate success but the new lineup looks really promising for Wilson. There are two new drivers on the way; the Pd6 is a 410 cc head geared for the better player and the Dd6 is a 460 cc head providing maximum forgiveness for the average player. The Pf6 and Df6 follow the same approach into the fairway wood category. A new hybrid called the Dh6 will round out the new lineup. All of these clubs utilize a technology that Wilson calls ETF which provides a more effective energy transfer from the clubface meaning more distance, even on off center hits. In the iron category Wilson has unveiled the Di6 as their new game improvement iron and the Ci6 for the mid handicap players. All clubs are now up on the website www.wilsongolf.com.
MacGregor – these guys have been pretty tight-lipped about upcoming releases but there is a new driver, the MacTec NVG 2, and a new hybrid, the UT, on the way for 2006. A couple of new Bobby Grace putters have been spotted as well. The Fat Lady Swings and the GT Mini can now be seen on the Edwin Watts site. We are hoping to have some more information on these clubs soon.
Titleist – as always these guys are very tight-lipped about new clubs coming out. Here’s what we know so far. The 905R will be the new driver released in March. It will be a 460 cc head using largely the same technology as the current 905S & T models. Shaft options should be the same as well. There will be two new forged irons available, the 695 and 660. Both will be geared for the stronger players like the rest of the 600 line from Titleist. A new Titleist hybrid club should be showing up in the spring as well that will be more forgiving than the current 503h.
Callaway – they were barely able to keep the Big Bertha 454 driver stocked this year and already it is being replaced. The new X-Series driver should be available early in the new year. It will be a 460 cc head available in a standard and tour version. Don’t ask me why Callaway is changing drivers so soon because it doesn’t make sense to me. The 2006 Big Bertha iron should also be available shortly. Again, this seems like change just for the sake of change. There is also a new Odyssey putter on the way – the Tri Ball SRT has already been seen on tour in the hands of Charles Howell III and Hank Kuehne.
Nakashima – a company that has really grown over the last year because of their beautiful designs and quality craftsmanship. They have a new fairway wood, the NX-1, a new hybrid, also the NX-1, and a new iron, the NX-5 on they way. Pictures are already up on their site for the hybrid and iron and they look awesome.
So there you have it, some of the bigger club releases on the way. Of course there are bound to be more between now and summer 2006 and we will do our best to keep you informed.