Tour Edge's new 7.5-degree Driver

Titliest offers 5.5-degrees of loft

TITLIEST TI ADDS LOFT
The Titleist Titanium 975D driver, first introduced to tour players last summer and available to consumers in the fall, is now available in 5.5 and 10.5 degrees of loft. The new offerings increase the Titleist Titanium 975D driver line to seven lofts ranging from 5.5 to 11.5-degrees. Also enhanced is the addition of left-handed models, and the Select Graphite shaft (85grams), slightly heavier than the stock Ultralite graphite issue (65grams). The clubhead measures 260cc and the graphite shafts are 45-inches with Thru-Bore technology for stability. Suggested retail is $499.

Taylor Made's Forged Drivers

BURNER TOUR
Taylor Made Golf has expanded its popular Ti Bubble 2 Metalwood line with the introduction of new 9.5 and 10.5-degree Tour Forged drivers and No. 2 and No. 4 fairway woods. Since its introduction last summer more than 15 tour players have switched to the 8.5-degree Ti Bubble Tour Forged. The new 9.5 and 10.5-degree drivers will have the same 265cc titanium head as existing 7.5 and 8.5 models. The tour forged drivers come standard with a 44.5-inch shaft. Suggested retail is $465.

A new clubhead shape

GOLFGEAR'S TSUNAMI
GolfGear International, holder of 10 patents on insert technology, has introduced the titanium Tsunami driver measuring 300cc. Unique is the clubheads shape, called the wave effect, designed for a greater transfer of energy resulting in longer drives.

Largest custom-fit titanium driver

PING'S TITANIUM GOES OVERSIZE
Karsten Manufacturing Corp., makers of Ping golf equipment, has unveiled what the company claims as the "largest, totally custom-fit titanium driver." The new Ping ISI Titanium (TiSi) model measures 310cc. Unique is the 10 hosel positions based on flat to standard to upright positions combined with open to square to closed clubface angles. There are four lofts, 7-, 8.5-, 10-, and 11.5-degrees. There are four shaft flexes, and 44 to 46 inches in length, with 45-inches being standard. Suggested retail is $495.

Driver by Nancy

5. JUST LIKE NANCY
The Arnold Palmer Golf Company has introduced a new business division dedicated to the women's golf market titled NancyLopezGolf. New for 1998 are the NancyLopezGolf metal woods, cavity-back cast irons, lightweight graphite shafts. Also are a series of putters, bags and luggage.

Armour extends shaft to 46 inch

TOMMY'S TI
Tommy Armour Golf has introduced the Ti 100, featuring a 300cc titanium clubhead and a 46-inch HST graphite shaft.

SMART DRIVER

Persimmon returns

Just when you thought you had seen the last of persimmon, Louisville Golf introduced the Smart Driver. The classic finish persimmon features a lightweight sole design that allows the head to be built in sizes comparable to metal woods. The most unique feature is the grooveless clubface. Suggested retail $340.

WILSON'S GONE FAT

Wilson's fat shaft

Wilson's Fat Shaft technology includes drivers and fairway woods. The driver comes in 7.5-, 9-, 10.5- and 12-degree lofts. Accompanying fairway woods include a Railer (14 degrees), 17- and 21-degrees. All clubheads are titanium, with railed soles. The bore through shaft enhances stability. The Fat Shaft technology is designed to reinforce support at the hosel and reduce clubhead twist. Suggested retail is $425 each.

Carbite Golf introduces new driver

GYRO-DRIVER
Carbite Golf, makers of the popular Gyroseven offset fairway wood, has added a 10.5-degree driver and 3-, 5- and 9-woods all featuring Carbite's proprietary titanium nitride face coating to preserve spin-producing fiction. Standard is a low balance point, ultralight shafts, slice-fighting hosel, keel-shaped utility sole. Suggested retail $119.85.

YONEX STEEL

ADX 200 in stainless steel

The popular Yonex ADX 200 head design is now available in stainless steel. The line will feature a 225cc driver and matching 3 and 5 woods. The company's Pendulum Power System allows club designers to reduce overall weight of the shaft, and reposition more weight into the clubhead without increasing the overall club weight. Suggested retail is $235 each.

NICKEL STRENGTH

New metal woods

KZ Golf's new metal woods, maraging steel is a low-carbon steel alloy containing up to 25 percent nickel. Heat-treated to superior strength and hardness, KZ's maraging steel face inserts are thin and light, allowing the use of thinner walls in the clubheads and optimal perimeter weighting. The driver is available in 10.5-degree loft and full range of flexes. Suggested retail is $269.

COUPLES DRIVER
Lynx Golf, having gone through a complete product re-introduction since a year ago, has caught the attention of tour players with their new Black Cat Tour driver, used by Fred Couples during his win at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The Black Cat Tour driver is forged Beta Titanium, a higher quality of titanium for more density and better strength to weight ratio. The club is so new that Lynx only offers it with 8 degrees of loft, a 44.5-inch Adlalite graphite shaft (three flexes) and right-handed. Suggested retail is $399. If you want the exact model that Fred uses, the cost goes to $449 with a UST light graphite shaft. Also new from Lynx is their Tungsten Beta Ti Driver, that features tungsten inserts which positions the clubheads center of gravity lower and further toward the rear, thereby increasing potential ball trajectory. Suggested retail is $499.

DAIWA'S TITANIUM
Daiwa Golf has unveiled its G-3 801 Ti woods with 46-inchh SVM Lite Strender (a mix of strong and slender) shafts. The Strender has a non-tapered appearance. Due to its thin profile, a Titanium Metal Mesh is integrated into the graphite beneath the grip to reinforce, and stabilize, that section of the shaft. The driver comes in 9- and 10.5-degree lofts, a 12.5-degree for women, a 3-wood (15 degrees) and 5-wood (19 degrees). Suggested retail is $460 each.