As a company at the forefront of equipment technology, what is perhaps most striking about Titleist's new hardware offering is the visual simplicity of the Scotty Cameron California putters, which replace the existing Circa 62 series and come with a bold RRP of £233. The engineering of these new models has not been as basic as the putters look though, as Cameron has combined four classic head shapes with the contemporary weighting technology of the Studio Select putters.
Cameron's ‘Select' technology enables the weight of a putter head to be balanced with shaft length, so the longer a golfer's preferred shaft length, the lighter the clubhead weight becomes.
"I am extremely excited about the early acceptance and feedback about the California putters," says Cameron, who has named the putters after towns in his home state. "This new line brings modern playability and customisation to some of my favorite designs from my early Classics and Handmade models. Players who prefer the more flowing, less geometric lines of the Coronado or the Del Mar are now going to find that they don't have to sacrifice performance. With the wide range of weight and length options we now have available, players can get a perfect fit for their stroke as well as their eye."
Cameron has strong ties with the state of California. He was born there, in the town of Glendale, he made his early models in his mother-in-law's garage in Orange County, California, and he and his family now live in Carlsbad, the club-making headquarters of the United States.
As for the new irons, Titleist is replacing its AP irons with the AP1 and AP2 models, which are multi-material, dual-cavity clubs, and for golfers who prefer forged irons, the brand has introduced the MB muscle-backs and CB cavity-backs.
Vokey finds a new groove
In response to the USGA and R&A's new rules restricting groove dimensions on Tour, Titleist has launched the Vokey Design Spin Milled C-C wedges. Titleist claims the ‘Condition of Competition' wedges provide optimum performance and shot control within the new guidelines, which limit the volume and sharpness of wedge grooves.
As the new guidelines apply to Tour golfers only in 2010, and not for all amateurs until 2024, Titleist will run the new C-C wedges alongside its current line of Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges. The C-C models are designed to provide a higher launch angle, less spin and more run-out than the original models.
"The new groove standards will put more pressure on better players' short games," says Bob Vokey, Titleist Master Craftsman. "It will be crucial for them to determine the most effective combinations of loft, bounce and sole grinds in their wedge set-ups. There is a lot less room for error when players don't have as much spin as they are accustomed, and they must be much more precise in their execution. Having worked directly with tour players, club pros and better amateurs in developing these new Spin Milled C-C wedges, I believe we have covered the spectrum in regards to providing the most effective combinations for players who are required to use the new grooves."
Looks can be deceiving: the new C-C wedges look just like the original Vokey Design Spin Milled models, but they won't feel the same ...
