About Golf is the latest to give Photon's clubs a whirl and report good results. We passed around a 10.5-degree driver and a YAG-1 model putter to many golfers, ranging from terrible to professional, and the feedback was universally positive. Everyone felt the clubs were, at minimum, above average, and some felt much more strongly than that.
And, as Photon Golf intended, the biggest plus for our players was the feel. I can attest to that myself. I am a very strong iron player, but my driver play is the type of driver play that creates a LOT of vibration.
The Photon Titanium Pro driver produced a noticeably lower level of vibration - even when I was the one banging away with it.
Another interesting trend in our testing: While all players gave positive reviews to both clubs, the higher handicappers were slightly more complimentary about the driver than the putter, while the lower handicappers were slightly more complimentary about the putter than the driver.
I have a theory about that. Low handicappers are more attuned to feel because they are better players; but higher handicappers are more likely to see a noticeable and obvious difference in feel because they are less likely to hit the sweet spot. And when it comes to putters, higher handicappers are more in love with oversized mallets, whose backweighting is of bigger benefit to their games.
Everyone also loved the sound of the driver. As you would expect from a driver engineered to feel more solid than a typical thin-faced titanium club, the Photon driver sounds more solid.
The Specs
• Driver: Currently comes in 9.0 and 10.5 degrees; 7.5 and 13.5 models due soon. Shaft length 45 inches, lie 58 degrees, clubhead size 360cc. Various shaft options (see pricing info below).
• Putters: True Temper steel shaft and Winn Medalist grip. Available in 33-, 34-, 35- and 36-inch lengths.
The Prices
• Driver: With a Fujikura Vista Pro, Grafalloy ProLite 35, Harrison Striper Titanium or UST Harmon Tour Series shaft, MSRP is $249.95. With a Penley ETA, Grafalloy Blue, Fujikura Vista Tour or Harrison Pro 2.5, MSRP is $289.95.
• Putter: $89.95 for all models.
A Few More Notes About Photon Golf
• The company currently produces only drivers and putters, but a 3-wedge set is the next step and is close to release.
• Photon makes several golf accessories that have also drawn notice, particularly its Digital Scorecard that features a pager-style belt clip. There's also the Access Bag, a pouch that attaches to the golf bag for easy access to more balls, divot tool, etc.; and the Shoe Pod and Glove Wallet.
