April 10, 2008

Volume 7

Hybrids, Hybrids, Hybrids! Some weeks ago I attended the big PGA show in Orlando. It seemed to me that every single manufacturer that called me over to their booth to “show me something new” or “something special”, simply meant that they wanted me to see and comment on their new Hybrid. These new clubs are called that because they contain the best features of a long iron and a fairway wood with few of the trouble causing attributes. Some, if you can believe it, had complete sets with each club shaped and balanced like a Hybrid. A while ago, we tested the then available Hybrids only to find that Bobby Jones ran away with the field. Well to make a long story much shorter, we arbitrarily selected the 21 best Hybrids based on everything from previous test results to what I though after hitting a few! Don't forget, you can now discuss our tests on the new rankmark message board loacted here! We picked out 64 testers, 21 with 0-9 handicap and 43 with 10-30 handicap. All clubs were hit and ranked on distance, accuracy, and the golfer’s opinion and feel for the club. The point allowance was as follows: 5 points for 1st place 4 points for 2nd place 3 points for 3rd place 2 points for 4th place 1 point for 5th place TEST RESULTS: 0-9 Handicap Callaway FT 52   Bobby Jones 48   Hippo XXL 28   Nickent 4DX 24   Ping Rapture 21   Yonex Cyber 20   Cleveland XLS 19   Titlest 585H 19   Taylor Made Burner Rescue 18   Nicklaus Dual Point  18   10-30 Handicap Callaway X 67   Ping Rapture 54   Cleveland XLS 49   Nickent 4DX 47   Taylor Made Burner Rescue 36   Mac Gregor NVG 36   Bobby Jones 30   Nicklaus Dual Point  23   Grip H2O45 24   Titlest 585H 20

Over All Point Count
Each will receive the RANKMARK Best of the best Award for 2008

Callaway X Series The X Hybrids are stainless steel hybrids that borrow from our X Series drivers and fairway woods. They incorporate a Modified X-Sole design for versatility and superior turf interaction, as well as proven Callaway Golf technologies.

CALLAWAY X Series score: 88

Bobby Jones by Jesse Ortiz Using the same technology as the fairway metals, Bobby Jones hybrids are designed to replace the hard-to-hit long irons. Rather than designing hybrids that look like irons, Jesse Ortiz' philosophy takes advantage of the fairway metal's low and deep center of gravity, its wide bodied triangle-of-stability (TOS), and its versatile contoured sole. Instead of using the homogenous shape of most hybrids long, flat leading edge Jesse Ortiz has created a more traditional shape hybrid. It is a throwback to the old Cleek or Mashee. These clubs were designed for maximum performance, with the ability to get the ball out of every type of lie, whether it be a divot of fairway bunker.

Bobby Jones score: 78

Ping Rapture The combination of a 17-4 stainless steel body, tungsten nickel sole plate and 475 super steel face in the Rapture Hybrids raise hybrid performance to new levels of distance, forgiveness and control. The thin, super steel face provides a hot, responsive hitting area and allows PING engineers to re-distribute weight in the form of tungsten nickel on the sole. The heavier sole plate positions the center of gravity low and away from the face for higher launch and low spin—resulting in high, penetrating trajectories for longer, softer landing approach shots.

Ping Rapture score: 74

Nickent 4DX Nickent spent over one year to develop the next generation of state-of-the-art hybrids. Three different multi-material combinations were tried to find the best possible performance. In the end, Nickent developed the first hybrid to utilize a patented brazing technology that fuses a titanium crown with a steel body; all while making the crown the thinnest it has ever been on a golf club head.

Nickent 4DX score: 68

Cleveland XLS The latest edition to the HiBORE family, this new hybrid has taken performance to another level. Like the Halo, its very successful predecessor, this club's most obvious feature is the inverted crown design, which moves weight lower in the head to make the ball easier to get airborne. Where the HiBORE differs from the Halo is in its face profile. Incorporating feedback from Cleveland's staff Tour players, the toe area has become more square in shape, creating a 10% larger face area. The leading edge has also been flattened to further promote a larger hitting area and make the HiBORE hybrid more playable from all types of playing conditions. Its perimeter weighting also expands the sweet spot for ultimate forgiveness.

Cleveland XLS score: 61

TaylorMade Burner Rescue » SuperFast Club Technology allows for an extremely light shaft and grip to promote faster swing speed for added power » Large steel clubhead promotes the highest MOI of any fairway wood in golf for tremendous forgiveness for long, straight results » Steel Pull-Face construction provides high COR to promote faster ball speed for increased distance

Taylor Made Burner Rescue score: 54

MacGregor MT MT Hybrids feature the same technology forward features, construction and sole design as the MT Fairway Woods. The face progression and set-up is similar as well. But the MT hybrids have slightly deeper faces for more confidence at address than with long irons. Rest assured, the Cup Face 360° Technology has been employed to make the entire club face the sweet spot and provide confidence in knowing even off-center or miss won't negatively affect one's game.

Mac Gregor MT score: 47

Hippo XXL The hot new XXL irons from Hippo are the easiest hitting and most forgiving irons ever! The XXLs are a hybrid set of irons with the 3 and 4 long irons being replaced with utility rescue-style clubs for greater playability and versatility The short and mid-irons feature an undercut cavity head design for greater forgiveness and consistency. A flow weight system is also utilized that progresses through the set that not only assists to download the center of gravity for a better ball flight and more distance, but also makes for greater precision and control in the short and mid-irons

Hippo XXL score: 43

Nicklaus Dual Point C.G. “Center of Gravity” aligned with optimal face flex point for maximum trampoline effect. Visually enhanced top line to aid alignment. 17-4 PH stainless steel head that features welded soleplate construction and added weight below the CG. Multi-layered face – Thinner around the perimeter and thicker in the center, expanding the clubhead’s “high trampoline zone”. Progressive offset. Rifle® Graphite shafts (also available in light weight Precision® Steel Crank Shaft® with ShockShield™).

Nicklaus Dual Point score: 41

Titlest 585H The 585•H utility metals blend the best playing characteristics of fairway metals and long irons to provide superior playability and control from the tee, fairway and rough. Developed with input from touring professionals, the new 585•H offers fairway metal-type launch with a flatter ball flight for iron-like control.

Titlest 585H score: 39

Grip H2O5 Over the last few years, a new trend has developed. Golfers have been replacing their harder to hit and inconsistent long irons and short fairway woods with easier to hit "hybrids" or "utility clubs." Developed by studying the golf games of recreational golfers - men and women with handicaps ranging from six to infinity - the G.R.I.P. Hyper Steel Hybrids offer you the distance of a fairway wood and the accuracy of an iron. Our hybrids are technologically advanced, easy to hit, fun to use, and save strokes.

Grip H2O5 score: 38

King Cobra DWS We took the #1 selling utility metal* in golf and made it even better. First, we improved the weight distribution by enhancing our proven Dual Weighting System, which increases MOI for even more forgiveness. And then we incorporated Cobra’s fastback crown design, which shifts the CG lower and deeper, for higher launch and greater carry distance. It’s the kind of club that won’t just improve your game – it’ll change it completely.

King Cobra DWS score: 32

Allowing each manufacturer one entry in each division
Rank mark’s testing system has a 5% margin of error, so some of these may be ahead of the one in front of them.

Here are some that were a part of the test and received many votes:

Adams Tight Lies	16
Alpha Version	25
Innovex RLS	21
Mizuno CLK	24
Sonartec H3	23
Wilson Fybrid	20

Kindest Regards,

Charlie Mandel
CEO RankMark


THIS MONTH"S BONUS!
A Column by Jack O'Leary
Like golfers just about anywhere, I’ve been waiting for this week for a while now. The Masters is as good as it gets. The sights and sounds are incredible. However, it’s the latter that I’m concerned about. The sounds emanating from PGA Tour players lately have been well heard above the roar and they have been, to say the least profane.
The latest incident involved Bubba Watson and Steve Elkington. Watson invited Elkington to kiss the posterior section of his anatomy with a live microphone and camera within 10 feet of his mouth. Most people hoped that they’d get into it and both would somehow lose. Golf can take that hit, but there was one the week before that damages the fabric of the game.
Tiger Woods just might be bigger than the game of golf given his appeal to non-golfers, but that’s not enough. Maybe he is the greatest player of all time, but apparently he’s toting a 27 handicap when it comes to social graces.
The latest incident stems from the CA Championship at Doral. Evidently a photographer snapped a picture as Tiger was making his transition from his backswing to the ball. Tiger said it made him flinch and he missed the par 3 ninth green to the left. He immediately launched a profanity-laced tirade. When he finally holed out for bogey, he continued his tirade on his way to the 10th tee.
The latter loud tongue lashing included, “if you take another bleeping picture, I’m going to break your bleeping neck.” Considering that the huge gallery contained a lot of kids and women, better control of his language would have been a good fit here.
Unfortunately, the only reason all of this came to light was it was picked up on TV. This was hardly the debut of Tiger’s blue standup routine. I can’t tell you how many times he has littered the countryside with F-Bombs during the course of play with nary a photographer within earshot. It has often gotten to the point where parents accompanying their kids to watch their idol in person had all they could stand after two holes and got as far from Tiger’s group as possible.
Why doesn’t the PGA Tour do something about this? In a follow up article to the Doral incident, John Daly was quoted saying that Tiger felt that he was the most fined player on Tour. Let’s see, you make $100 million a year and you’re fined $10,000? Now, there’s a deterrent.
Here’s how far it’s gotten out of hand. Tiger agreed to an ESPN interview about the incident. Among his replies were such gems as “there’s been a lot worse said out there.” Little did anyone know it was said by him. “It was the heat of the moment and I got a little hot.” This was said in response of a question asking if he regretted his choice of language. Tiger had a tap in to recoup his reputation and shanked it.
I take you back a few years when Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were paving the way for players like Tiger to have an opportunity to earn untold millions. Trust me, they had the total attention of the media. Unfortunately, the photographers that often followed them had little or no understanding of golf photography and the shutters in the cameras of the day were a lot louder. To be fair, the writers who often covered the travails of Jack and Arnie were sent to the tournament as a penance by a vindictive sports editor. He didn’t know anything and that could be at least as frustrating for players of that stature.
Unlike “The Golfer Formerly Known as Eldrick,” Arnold and Jack held their tongues. If there was a rebuke, it was issued civilly. They were aware of their status and how their actions and words would reflect on the game and the PGA Tour. That’s called class.
What Tiger did can be called class as well. Unfortunately, it’s low class. I’m positive that Tiger isn’t the only player who drops the F-Bomb on the course, but by virtue of his status, he’s the lead bombardier.
It’s time for the PGA Tour to get into the game and start announcing fines. The NBA is more than happy to announce that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $250,000 for cussing out a referee. The NFL couldn’t have gone public quicker when it came to the Patriots Bill Belicheck and Spygate. Major League baseball immediately goes public with fines and suspensions without regard to the status of the player.
The professional golfer should be accountable for his WORDS and ACTIONS. In most instances the offense was made publicly. Why should the punishment be exacted in private? Maybe, just maybe, public disclosure for being a foul mouth boor might get Tiger, et al to take a glance at a thesaurus once in a while.
In closing, I have two questions for Tiger. In two, or three years, or even today, would you speak like that in Sam Alexis’ presence? Then why is it okay to speak like that in front of other parent’s kids?
If Tiger doesn’t have any respect for others, let’s hope he can find it for the game for at least this week.