Hi Tommy,

Below is the article that I wrote about my experience, that I wanted to share with everyone at BLCC. Take care, we'll see you soon.

  -John

WOW – it is hard to believe that a year has passed since I was part of the 2009 club testing summit in California, and our current season here is almost over as well…..where does the time go? I was fortunate to get asked back for the 2010 summit, which just wrapped up on 10/24 in Mesquite Nevada …and wanted to share the experience with you all.

Being my second year, I was more relaxed knowing what to expect and what was expected of me, so I would have to rate this year as a lot more fun. (Plus we stayed at a Casino – but that’s another story) All of the same people from Golf Digest were there and most of the same testers were back, so we all knew each other and in some cases had stayed in touch over the past year. In fact leading up to the trip the emails began to fly…first just getting re-acquainted, but then the fun started with Ryan Sakowski from Toledo calling out Jim Jones from Park City Utah . Jim is the oldest of our group and Ryan is one of the young lions who pointed out to Jim that the AARP convention was in town….and it went downhill from there….but all in good fun. The newbies were broken in quickly and no punches were pulled….much the way we get going when a Myrtle Beach trip is coming up. Golfers being golfers……it is universal.

With input from the equipment manufacturers, they reduced the number of club pros and scratch/low handicap players slightly, and expanded the number of testers in the 5-10 handicap category. There were 16 (15 men and LeeAnn Fairlie a 1 handicap from Oklahoma, who has been at every summit since they began) of us there for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (not counting the 15 people from Golf Digest, and the 4 higher handicap locals brought in on Saturday morning). The entire process takes the GD staff about 10 days to complete. They first bring in technical representatives from all the equipment manufacturers, to meet with the staff PHD’s and Equipment Editors of both Golf Digest and Golf World. They pour over every technical aspect of every club, for a few days. When that group leaves, they bring in a panel of retailing and marketing specialists from the major retailers like Golf Galaxy, Edwin Watts, Dick’s and a few club pros as well. They pour over every club from the perspective of price point, appearance, anticipated demand, who and how to target their marketing efforts etc. This also takes a few days, and when that group leaves, that is when our group arrives – for the third and final step in the process.

Between now and late December, they compile, evaluate and debate every piece of information, every comment, every minute detail about each club that was tested during the 10 day process, to form the core of the annual February equipment issue that is mailed out in January. They really feel this is the most important task that they undertake each year, and want to be as thorough and unbiased as possible.

We were split up into two groups of eight this year, and within your group were paired with another tester and each pair was assigned a member of Golf Digest’s staff. In my case, I was paired with Steve Lachman, a 4 handicap from LaQuinta CA , and Mike Johnson – the equipment editor for Golf World - was assigned to take down all of our notes. We stayed together all three days. If any of you are familiar with the articles written by “Bomb and Gouge”; Mike is “Bomb”. (go to www.golfdigest.com, and click on ‘EQUIPMENT’, there will be a link to their column, and to their Blog about this years’ Hot List Summit, where you will find several short pieces about the testing this year)

Basically there were 9 categories of clubs this year, and while our group of eight was testing one category, the other group of eight was testing a different category. Each category took about 2 hours, with a couple taking 3 hours. In the case of putters, they made a change in testing this year. Where last year, we tested literally every putter present, this year we were asked to choose a putter from each model series. For example, the Ping CRAZ-E comes in several different variations….different shaft lengths, slightly different shape and weight of the perimeter weighting, and different alignment aids. It was up to us to pick which one caught our eye, just as though we were in a golf shop’s putting corral….and test just that one putter from the series. So that was an interesting switch.

IRONS

They did not have my group test the super game improvement irons, we only tested the game improvement irons and what they call “Players Clubs” (forged blades). This lead to one of my first surprises….the forged clubs, thru advancements in shaft technology and head design are not as difficult to hit consistently as they were in the past. It brought back memories of when I played forged clubs many years ago……when you hit a nice shot, the feeling was very sweet. But unlike in those days, when you slightly miss-hit the new products, there is some forgiveness. The top three that I liked were;

Cleveland CG7 Tour; Wilson FG Forged Tour & Callaway X Forged….but all the main brand products performed very well.

The changes in the game-improvement irons I felt were minor and mostly cosmetic to make them look more like players clubs and less like the super game improvement irons. All of the clubs from Taylormade, Callaway, Mizuno, Titleist, Cleveland and Cobra performed very well….be sure to test both regular and stiff as the companies are always tinkering to improve playability and feel. The Ping G15 irons performed the best for me from this category.

DRIVERS

In general, I didn’t think the drivers have changed a whole lot from last year….with a few exceptions. As with the irons….be sure to test drivers with different shaft flexes and kick points. I felt several models performed for me better when I switched to the stiff model, even though I have a relatively slower club head speed compared with many other golfers. Mike Johnson confirmed this…..some of the companies have softened up their standard “Stiff” shafts slightly, while others have strengthened their “Regular” shafts. My top choices were;

Cobra ZL; Mizuno MP630, tied for third were – Tour Exotics XCG, Ping G15 & Callaway Diablo Edge; then the Wilson Smooth, followed by the Adams 9032LS. The Titleist 909D Comp performed very well, and the 909D3 was incredibly solid feeling and was probably the longest of the bunch….if you play the type of course that gives you a lot of room for the ball to roll out. The carry distance and trajectory were low.

HYBRIDS

This category continues to evolve with some entrants coming over from the fairway woods and others going back into that category…..again….. test clubs with different flexes. Many of these clubs performed better for me with a stiff shaft. I really liked equally the following;

Mizuno MP CLK; Wilson Hybrid Heavy Sole; Fourteen UT 306, and the Nike V2. – Nike is getting away from the square head, at least on this model, and it was very well received by testers of all abilities. The Bobby Jones and Cobra Max S2 also performed very well.

FAIRWAY WOODS

I was really only impressed with one club from this group and it turns out that they debated whether it belonged here or with the Hybrids….it is a new(old) club by Taylormade called the Raylor. It has a pronounced V shaped sole much like the old Ginty’s, with a very low center of gravity, and heavy sole. It worked well off good and bad lies, and even out of a fairway bunker. There didn’t seem to be much new to report from the rest of the clubs in this category….they all performed about the same, with only the Raylor standing out, at least for me.

PUTTERS

This is such a personal preference category that I would just encourage you to try as many different types, models and manufacturers as you have patience for and for as long as your back will allow. A lot of the manufacturers are coming out with clubs very similar to the Ping Anser….if you like that style putter, there are a number of new ones to consider. They have blended the “Blade” and “Half Mallet” groups into one, and some of the ones that stood out for me were;

Ping Anser; Never Compromise NCX Ray; Nike Method model 004; Odyssey White Ice 1; Taylormade Rossa Sebring; Odyssey Black Series 4

Of the Mallet putters I liked; Taylormade Itsy Bitsy; Ping iN; Ping Craz-E iwi; Ping I series

WEDGES

In spite of all the attention focusing on the new groove shape and dimensions, we tested only wedges with currently acceptable grooves as they will still be legal for the vast majority of golfers for many years to come. I confess, I have had my sand and lob wedges for many years and didn’t really pay much attention to this category last year. For whatever reason…..my eyes were opened this year to all the advantages that these new wedges can bring to your game. The first being the heavier heads to help get thru the rough and probably more importantly the sharp/gripping grooves…..the added spin these clubs provide allow you to play a variety of shots in many different ways.

I really liked the feel and performance of the following;

Titleist Vokey BN; Ping Tour W; Cleveland CG 15; Scratch; Callaway XC Grind

Other than what is already on the website blog, you won’t see much reference to the Summit until they are ready to publish the February issue, which is late December – early January. At that time, they tell me, all of the pictures they took will be up on the website and this year they also had a production crew there filming the whole process and interviewing each participant, and listening in on your comments as you were relaying them to your note taker….this is especially intimidating as the camera and microphone operators sneak up on you….. and while you are trying to talk you are silently praying that what is coming out sounds somewhat understandable while at the same time it is sounding like gibberish in your own head. By the time they interviewed me, I was a little more used to it and the interviewer was very good at helping you relax and avoided questions with yes and no answers. So I am really looking forward to seeing the pictures and the video footage of everyone.

As some of you may know, Mesquite Nevada is also home to the ReMAX World Long Drive Championship, and this event was getting started the day after we were finishing up. Many of the guys were staying at the same Hotel as we were and practicing at the same range where our testing was based.

The long drive guys are amazing…..you know how all jockeys pretty much look alike….not just in height but also in their builds, and all swimmers are pretty much built the same….well you could say the same about the majority of these guys….they look like NFL Tight Ends. Most of them were at least 6’ 3”, well over 230lbs, broad shoulders, big arms…. But slim at the waist. They looked like clones, their builds were amazingly similar. Sure there were a few chubby guys and a few lean guys….and a couple that looked like the “Tasmanian Devil” on triple steroids….muscles bulging, veins popping out , eyes bugging out….snorting and grunting as though they were lifting weights….but most of them stood out very distinctly from everyone else….it was very interesting to watch them hit balls and check out their technique. The ball just explodes off the club head and it disappears from view in no time while it is still 300 feet in the air, and showing no signs of arcing back to earth. During one break, almost all of us wandered over to their end of the range and just watched.

I met Jamie Sadlowski – he is only about 6’ and lean – but his technique is great and the club head speed he generates is incredible. He won the championship last year and many people feel he has a swing that will make him a contender for many years to come. I also met Jason Zuback – the best known of the Tasmanian Devils, who has won this event at least a few times over the years. It was quite a spectacle just watching them practice. At night under the lights it must be like fireworks on the 4th of July. If you are interested, check out: www.longdrivers.com

On a personal note, I want to Thank Joe Farone for a wonderful dinner and evening of cocktails..….he and his wife Cindy were in Las Vegas for a conference that week. When I told Joe that my wife Cindi and I were going to be in town the same week he graciously invited us to meet them at Caesars for Cocktails and Dinner. Joe went out of his way to make us feel welcome and spared no expense....…(he snuck us into a reception at the conference he was attending.) Sorry Joe….I couldn’t resist. We really did have a great time and heard all about Dr Hampson’s diagnosis of a women who fell ill on their flight out and how she blocked the beverage cart from reaching his seat. Brian – you may have missed your calling.

I wish you all a great upcoming Holiday season and a safe and healthy New Year, if I don’t see you until next Spring.

  -John Keeler