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Equipment ReviewBlaine’s Picks For Summer 2010By: Blaine Raffee, Manager - Edwin Watts Golf - Concord, NCSummer of 2010 is here, andonce again the golfequipment companies aretrying to not only best thecompetition, but best themselves.A daunting task every year tofind technology that will outperformthe previous model.In 1982, when I started in golf,technology moved very slowly. Metalwoods were just being introduced, andno one thought they would last. Fastforward to today, and golf retail has becomebig business. In this issue, I'mgoing to review what I believe are thebest golf products for 2010.Let me start by giving you my formulafor how I derived at my conclusions.I took feel, cosmetics,technology and instinct to comeup with my own opinions.The driver is the firstclub we pull out of the bag.My choice for driver isthe Taylormade r9 SuperTri.The rich blackfinish is least importantfeature of thiscreation. The r9 Supertrihas an adjustableshaft andweight ports. You can change the faceangle, open or closed, change the lieand loft as well. Combine 8 differentshaft/head positions with 3 moveableweights, and every golfer can make itfit. The r9 sounds good with excellentfeel, and in a sea of great drivers, Igive the r9my toppickbased onits customizability.Inthe hybridcategory Iam going theAdams IdeaPro Black. Iam personallynot a regular userof a hybrid, butIdea Pro Blackhas the best feeland looks andfor me. It is abit of a smallerhead, more ofan iron look,but I thinkthat’s why Ilike it. For the higher handicapper Iwould recommend the new CallawayFT-IZ. It’s much more forgiving, withoutbeing ugly.For irons, I have 2 winners. Numberone - I would suggest for the betterplayer is the Mizuno MP 58. WithMizuno's grain flow forging process,nothing feels softer.Reduced offset andthin top line willappeal to the enthusiast,but the slightcavity will offersome forgiveness.It is the best of bothworlds. Number 2 - In the gameimprovement line I like the G15 fromPing, the leader in iron fitting. One ofthe first sets of clubs I owned was PingEye2's, andthe G15 isan oversizeversion of thegreatest golf irons ofall time.Putting is where I strugglethe most. About a yearago I stumbled on a HeavyPutter. Let me tell you, theworse you are at putting, thebetter this putter is. The putteris literally what it says, aheavy putter. The secret tothe Heavy Putter is not just aheavy head, but it is balancedwith weight in theshaft, under the grip. The best way todescribe the putter is like a grandfatherclock pendulum, the heavy weightkeeps you in position and online.Purists may not like the feel, but it isvery forgiving.I always remind people is to haveevery piece of equipment in your bagfitted for you. This can make all thedifference. So go find out what yourfavorites are. Attend an outdoor demoday, or visit a local retailer, these aregreat opportunities to test everythingside by side. Once you decide whatlooks good andfeels good, get itfitted.12 - CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL - SUMMER 2010 _____________________________________________________________________________