Golf club counterfeiting is a problem the major manufacturers in the industry have banded together to fight. It's something that costs all of them millions of dollars, not to mention the ill will that may results in consumers who unknowingly own counterfeit club but blame the name-brand company when those clubs develop problems.
Cleveland Golf has introduced the "Authenticity Cleveland Golf Product" label to help consumers identify authentic Cleveland products, if any questions over authenticity arise. The label, which will appear on the shaft near the clubhead, will be used with many new Cleveland products, including most of those listed below. An "Authenticity Decoder Lens" is waved over the label and if it reveals the Cleveland Golf logo wallpaper, you know the clubs are authentic.
For more information about this feature, or about any of the clubs listed below, visit www.clevelandgolf.com.
Cleveland Golf 2008 Products
In advance of the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show, Cleveland has announced some of the new clubs it has coming in 2008. Here's a thumbnail look at each of the new products announced so far:
The HiBore XLS fairway wood is 24 percent larger in clubhead volume, with a 19-percent larger face and "vastly increased" MOI, according to Cleveland, compared to the original HiBore fairway. The HiBore XLS hybrid has a more blunted toe and a more symmetrical face, a look at address Cleveland believes golfers will find more appealing, plus additional offset to help promote squaring of the face.
All clubs begin shipping Feb. 1, 2008, with Fujikura's Fit-On M Red and Gold shaft-fitting system a standard option. The minimum advertised price for the driver is $299; the fairway wood, $179; the hybrid, $149.
The HiBore/Gold Combo set, on the other hand, is designed for all levels of golfers, but will likely be most preferred by mid- to higher handicappers. The 3 and 4 HiBore irons are combined with 5-PW CG Gold irons for a blended set of hybrids and cavityback irons.
The HiBore/Gold Combo set ships Feb. 1, 2008, with an MAP of $599 with steel shafts and $699 with graphite shafts. The CG Tour irons ship Feb. 15, 2008, with an MAP of of $799 (True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts are standard).
Hippo Hex 3-2-3 Progressive Irons
The Hex line has proved a hit for Hippo with its emphasis on game-improvement forgiveness and value prices. Now Hippo expands the line with its Hex 3-2-3 Progressive Irons set, which will retail for $399 with graphite shafts or $349 for set with some graphite, some steel.
The "3-2-3" in the title refers to the set configuration: three hybrids, two hollow-core deep cavitybacks, and three wide-soled deep cavitybacks. The hybrids replace the 3, 4 and 5 irons of a traditional set; the 6 and 7 irons are the hollow-core irons in this set; and the short irons, 8, 9 and pitching wedge, are the wide-soled offerings.
Hippo says the 3, 4 and 5 hybrids are similar in shape to its Hex driver, which should mean a hexagonal clubhead design with weight pulled to the rear corners. The hollow cores of the 6 and 7 irons are closed with a vibration-dampening cap. The stock graphite shaft is the proprietary Mitsubishi Rayon CP4 in stiff or regular flex.
The Hippo Hex 3-2-3 Progressive Irons begin shipping in early February, 2007.
Bushnell Goes Vertical
Bushnell Outdoor Products, makers of many popular laser rangefinders, is introducing a vertically configured model of its Tour V2 rangefinder. The Tour V2 is a handheld model - and now it can be held in the hand in a vertical position - with ranging capabilities up to 275 yards without the need for reflectors on the pins. It also comes with golf-grip touch points, 5x magnification, a scan mode and in-view LCD display. www.bushnellgolf.com
