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New Titleist ball lives up to hype
I'll make a prediction about what is going to be the hottest, most buzzworthy golf product in 2001: Titleist's new golf ball. It's called the Pro V1 392 at the moment, pending a yet-to-be-announced name. (How about the Millennium, since we're entering a new era? Or how about Bob? I bet that one isn't trademarked yet.) The hype preceding this ball's introduction came from the PGA Tour, where players such as Davis Love and Phil Mickelson raved about it. Then Billy Andrade used it to win in Las Vegas. If you pretty much think a ball is a ball, I'd normally agree. As a low handicapper, I'm happy with anything like the Strata, Titleist Professional/Prestige or Maxfli Revolution. I used mostly Stratas this year, mainly because I had a bunch of them. Titleist recently sent me a dozen of the new Pro V1 392s to try out. I expected it to be just another good ball. Instead, I was surprised. Love and Mickelson talked about how this ball went farther and had a better trajectory, yet still had the same feel around the greens as what they were used to. I found the same thing. Of course, I didn't figure that out until I'd hit approach shots over at least three greens. I was playing at my home course near Pittsburgh -- Treesdale -- so I know the yardages and what I usually hit. I had a 192-yard shot to the middle of the green on one hole, with the pin back, and hit a 4-iron that felt a little heavy. It landed in the back fringe and one-hopped into the rough. I hit a 7-iron over the green from 160 yards on the another hole and an 8-iron from 152 way over on another. Few things are as variable as my swing, but I noticed a pattern. The rest of the round, I underclubbed slightly and got great results. I didn't feel a dramatic difference in length off the tee, but on the other hand I wasn't swinging my driver well, either. The Pro V1 392 is a large-solid-core ball. The cover is a urethane elastomer. Is that technical enough for you? All I can tell you is that iron shots launch a little higher and just keep on going. I used the ball last weekend in 20-25 mph gusts and it performed well in the wind, too. The bad news is, I'm halfway through the dozen I was sent, and these balls, which reportedly will retail for more than $50 a dozen -- possibly well over $50 -- won't be available in stores until sometime in early 2001. Will hackers pay that much for golf balls? I'm not sure I will. I have a tough time coughing up $36 or $38 for a dozen Titleist Professionals, Maxfli Revolutions or Stratas (which have been marked down a couple of bucks in my local golf chain stores lately) or $44 for 10 of those mysterious Callaway balls. But I can tell you that in my test, the Pro V1 392 was not just another golf ball. Well equippedOne of the most fun toys for golf is a rangefinder. I just tried the Bushnell Yardage Pro 1000 laser rangefinder. It's a blast, able to measure up to 1,000 yards -- although, contrary to what you might think, I was never quite that far away from the pin. I think they're fun in mall parking lots, too. Guess how far it is to that red Suburban? ... I really like the Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport blade putter. I paid $180 for one in June and I've putted better with it. I am disappointed, however, that it is rusting and corroding faster than a Chevy Vega. It was shiny black when it was new. If I was supposed to oil it up after every round, nobody told me -- not that I would have. The putter still works fine, it just looks like an antique. Which is OK, I guess, but I'm just surprised by how quickly it happened. ... I've mentioned them before, but the HOK (House of Kangaroo) kangaroo leather gloves are the best ones I've ever used. They're thinner and better-fitting than what I've worn in the past and, from my experience this summer, more durable, too. The company has had trouble getting shelf space, but if you see some they're worth checking out. ... One tour pro, who's currently under contract to another clubmaker, told me the new Adams irons, with the combination graphite-steel shafts, are the best irons he's ever hit. I haven't tried them out yet. Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle is a regular contributor to the magazine's Golf Plus edition. Click here to send a question to his Golf Mailbag.
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