Equipment: TM Fairway Woods, Callaway Balls

Our end-of-the-week equipment update includes new fairway woods from TaylorMade and golf balls from Callaway, plus clubs from Adams, a "haute couture" golf bag, and "self-correcting" golf balls.

TaylorMade's latest are the r7 Steel and r7 Ti fairway woods. Both offer moveable weight technology, but the clubs give the golfer several options to help choose between the two. The most obvious - but not the only one - being their construction method and material. More info

Here's a roundup of our other equipment tidbits today:

• New Big Bertha Ball from Callaway: The new Callaway Big Bertha Golf Ball replaces the Big Bertha Red (distance) and Big Bertha Blue (feel) balls that had been part of the Callaway lineup since 2004. The new Big Bertha Ball combines the elements of the two previous balls into a 2-piece pellet with an ultra-low compression, highly-resilient core that creates soft feel and distance. The MSRP for a dozen is $25 and they will be available beginning Feb. 1. More info

• Adams Idea a2 OS Senior: This is a 13-piece, integrated set inspired by the success of Adams' similar set aimed at women. The Idea a2 OS Senior set includes a 460cc driver, 3 and 5 fairway woods, 4 and 5 Hybrid iWoods, 6 and 7 hybrids, plus an 8-iron, PW, SW and a mallet putter (the 13th piece is a golf bag). "It’s a seamless progression of woods, hybrids and irons blended into one perfect set and will take the guesswork out of what slower swing speed players should put in their bag," the company says. The set will be available in March with an MSRP of $899.99. Adams website

• Polara Golf Balls: One of the products on display at the PGA Merchandise Show next week will be the Polara Golf Ball, whose manufacturer calls it "self-correcting." The ball's dimples are shallower near its poles than at its equator. According to the manufacturer, North of 90 Golf, this dimple pattern helps reduce hooks and slices by up to 50 percent. The Polara was originally produced and sold well in the 1970s, but legal battles with the USGA resulted in it disappearing from the market. Now it's back. North of 90 Golf website

• Belding Ig-Zot-Ik Bag: New from Belding is a $1,500 golf bag the company describes as European-inspired "haute couture" for the golf course. It's called the Ig-Zot-Ik (for "exotic") and will be custom-made, hand-sewn with each order. That huge sticker price includes a travel bag. Look for the Belding Ig-Zot-Ik around March 2006. Belding website

See also:
• Pro Shop