Small companies
offer BIG drivers
By Kiel Christianson,
Senior Writer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Dec. 4, 2004) - Michael Tait and SMT Golf have become something of a legend in the world of long drive
competitions. In just three short years, Tait's self-designed drivers have
captured four Re/Max Long Drive titles, and a slew of runner-up
hardware.
This, then, is the secret the big equipment manufacturers don't want
you to know about: Some small companies are making some of the best drivers
on the market.
These smaller companies don't have to pay Tour players golf-carts full
of loot to wear their logos, so they can sell their drivers for less.
On top of that, the smaller volume makes for far better quality control
than the mass-marketed behemoth brands.
While the mainstream print media remain beholden to their major
equipment advertisers, TravelGolf.com can offer readers news and views on
companies about which you may not have heard.yet. Here are four new big
sticks from three small but up-and-coming equipment manufacturers.
SMT Golf
Of
the eight current drivers made by Oswego, Illinois's SMT Golf, we tested
the Spectrum and the Babylon models. Both had 9-degrees of loft and were
fitted with stiff Accu-Flex VS 339 shafts.
The Babylon (MSRP $179 for head, head cover, ferrules, lifetime warranty
(no shaft or grip))has a titanium face and sole, and weighs five grams less
than the Spectrum (MSRP $129 (ditto)), which has some added weight in a
sole plate that swoops from the face toward the heel.
On the range at the University
of Illinois Golf Courses, Mike Anastasia from Urbana tested out the
four drivers under consideration for us. He described the Babylon as, "The
straightest of the bunch. Even miss-hits felt good." Of the Spectrum, he
commented that, "The weight seemed too much. It feels odd."
At the Gambit in Southern Illinois, Brian Thomas, a 16-handicap State
Trooper, had a different reaction to the Spectrum. Thomas has never carried
a driver in his bag. "I just can never hit them," he said, before pulling
out the Spectrum during a round.
After a slight miss-hit that traveled 280 yards down the center of the
fairway, however, Thomas laughed, "I could get used to this one." He
continued to hit it well - far more so than any of the other four drivers.
"I like the added weight," he said.
KZG
Gemini
When Colorado teaching pro Zane Zwemke turned down offers from big-name
equipment companies to play their gear, opting instead to stick with his KZ Golf (KZG) forged irons and Gemini driver for the PGA Championship at
Whistling
Straits, he wasn't trying to make a statement. Zwemke had shot a pair
of 58s with the same clubs the previous year.
KZG's Gemini driver (MSRP $419) was originally disallowed by the USGA.
The driver si the only one with a dual face - one face plate behind the
outer one - and the USGA thought that the design was purposely trying to
increase spring-like effect, which is illegal. KZG argued that the dual
faced-driver was intended to make it more accurate, not longer, and the
USGA relented.
Now fully legal, the Gemini is getting some much deserved attention. We
tested the 395cc Gemini, with 9 degrees of loft and fitted with a stiff
Nova Tech 7500 shaft. 355cc and 460cc models are also available.
This was my personal favorite of the four driver tested here. I achieved
a very straight, piercing ball flight, with carry upwards of 260 yards and
roll of another 20-40 yards.
Vortex
Golf
At the 2004
PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas, I ran across a Japanese company called
Vortex Golf (vortexgolf.com). Although new to the US, Yugengaisha Rita, as
it's known in Japan, is becoming very popular in the Land
of the Rising Sun, despite price tags on the drivers there of $1200.
Vortex Golf's VT 420 beta titanium driver (MSRP $349) is the company's
first foray into the US, and already it is making noise. In independent lab
testing, the Vortex driver outdistanced the SMT Spectrum in carry distance,
and tied with the long-driver favorite in total distance. Both clubs
blasted the big-name competition out of the water in the same testing.
John Hamarik, a former PGA Tour pro and representative of Vortex Golf,
admitted surprise at these results. "We couldn't believe it," he said.
However, Vortex CEO and club designer Junichi Harada was less than amazed.
Through an interpreter, Harada described the philosophy behind the design,
along with that of a propriety non-conforming shaft with a ridge on either
side to lessen drag. According to Harada and Hamarik, the little ridges
result in swing speed increases of 5 mph or more.
We tested the Vortex VT 420 with 10.5 degrees of loft and a stiff Vortex
Technology shaft, and were also impressed. Mike Anastasia commented, "It
seems like it's got a lot of spring to it." He hit it farter than his own
Wilson Deep Red driver from the first swing, and called it "easier to swing
and lighter" than either his or any of the other drivers.
Don Hicks, a 20-handicapper from Indiana, was looking for a replacement
for his old Big Bertha, but could never find anything he felt more
comfortable with. That is, until he tried the Vortex. "Wow," he said after
one large drive straight down the middle, "I simply cannot hit a ball
better than that."
Both Anastasia and Hicks offered to buy the Vortex from me. Maybe I should
ask for the Japanese price.
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.
EQUIPMENT
REVIEW
