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Golf magazines give geometry-based swing method rave reviews

May 13, 2007. Source: Kentucky.com
 

Here's how GolfWorld magazine describes the "nearly revolutionary" basics of the Andy Plummer-Mike Bennett golf swing:

"The centerpiece of their approach is that the most efficient swing is one in which the golfer stays centered over the ball during the backswing, while keeping his weight on the front foot. There is no effort to transfer weight. Most instruction maintains that a golfer must load into the back foot to create torque and power."

Here's how Golf Digest explains it:

"Their secret is a geometry-based swing model that contradicts almost everything being taught in the game today. In short, their swing has the player tilting dramatically to his left on the backswing, and then springing up through impact. Players who get beyond its radical look marvel at the pure strikes it produces."
 

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Golf geometry

The quest continues for that stroke of genius

Friday, March 23, 2007. Source: Times-Picayune by Angus Lind

It looks like a chubby model-airplane wing attached to a four-foot whip-like shaft and, upon contact with a ball, sounds like nothing you've ever heard on a golf course before, except maybe when the course was under construction.
That radically tapered wing is square, very unusual for the aerodynamics of aviation, and highly irregular for a golf club.

I had the opportunity this week at Audubon Golf Club to test Nike's newest technology, something called the Nike SasQuatch SUMO2 driver. SUMO stands for SUper MOment of Inertia and the 2 is for "squared."

We're talking geometry, golf geometry, and the thought of geometry or trigonometry of any kind still brings on bad memories of tangents and co-tangents and anxiety attacks, going back to seventh-period math class in high school. But back to the topic at hand:

The skinny on this new club is that it looks weird, sounds weirder, but sends the ball straight and long. I hit it straight, but long isn't in my portfolio anymore. And even when ball-striking mistakes are made, the club delivers superior forgiveness -- something all men yearn for from their wives and girlfriends from time to time. Ditto golfers and their partners.

SasQuatch -- aka Bigfoot in the world of mysterious hairy apelike creatures that are seen from a distance from time to time, but never photographed clearly -- is merely one of the latest catchy names bestowed on high-tech drivers in the highly competitive golf equipment industry.

The apelike creature has a big footprint and so does the Nike SasQuatch SUMO -- no one would argue that it's not a beast of a club.

This intimidating driver is roughly five inches by five inches and resembles the drivers most golfers grew up with about as much as a triangle resembles an octagon. (Yikes! A math analogy -- I'm starting to twitch!) And when this club makes contact with the ball, you can forget about that titanium ping you've gotten used to hearing since persimmon woods went into the attic; the sound it makes is high-pitched and loud and discordant.

You could call it acoustic golf, a music genre I could do without. I can only imagine a driving range full of golfers all hitting the SasQuatch SUMO Squared. The neighbors would call the cops, who would arrive armed with decibel meters. Earplugs, always mandatory on a shooting range, would be standard issue at a driving range as well.

It would be like an air-horn concert: cacophony squared.

Developing new golf technology has become a sprint, not a distance race. Weekend golfers flush with dead presidents are a ready market for the latest equipment; some will buy and try just about anything that in theory could make their game better. The shelf life of golf clubs used to be measured in two or three years. Then it was a year or so. Then it was seasons. Now it's months and days. Coming soon: rounds.

Son of SasQuatch SUMO Squared is undoubtedly on the drawing board. And Sas' grandson is rattling around in some golf tekkie's head.

In the spring, a young -- or in my case, old -- man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of . . . golf, at least if you're a golfer. Otherwise it might turn to love or romance or less frustrating pastimes. The trees are all budded up, the flowers are blooming, the fairways are lush and green, the temperature hasn't reached the baking level yet and The Masters and the quest for the green coat loom on Easter weekend.

Down the road, of course, is the 2007 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, returning to the TPC Louisiana course, where weekenders can follow their idols. And all this activity stirs those who have been dormant over the winter, whenever that was.

So golfers head for the course, their heads crammed with a few hundred thoughts about their golf swings -- and buoyed by false optimism.

Golf, former New Orleans Open champion George Knudson once observed, "is a stationary ball game in which we make a motion towards a target. The ball simply gets in the way of the motion."

It's at the same time a most rewarding and a most frustrating game, largely governed by Murphy's Laws, which seem to hand out the rewards very sparingly. No matter how badly you are playing, you can always play worse; that's a given every golfer knows.

But that stops absolutely no one, me included. The SasQuatch SUMO Squared and its weird sound won't be in my bag, rest assured. But it's not because of the noise. As Nick Faldo once pointed out, "I've never seen a $500 club change a bad golf swing."

 

Lessons in geometry at the PGA Merchandise Show

The latest buzzword in golf equipment: Geometry.
Specifically, the shape of drivers, the sport’s most alluring club.

January. 26, 2007. Source: CBS SportsLine.com by Chuck Stogel


Discussions about geometry, and drivers with square, triangular, bullet-like and other newfangled shapes dominated the aisles of the 54th annual PGA Merchandise Show, which moved into the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 25 for a three-day stay.

The trade show, which is not open to the public, serves as an annual showcase for introducing new clubs, balls, apparel, footwear, accessories and other golf-related products for the upcoming season.

With the U.S. Golf Association setting limits on the width, breadth, overall size, springlike face effect and, most recently, a factor called the moment of inertia, equipment manufacturers have been seeking new ways to maximize driver performance.

“If we change the geometry of the club, we can change the inertial properties and the way we drive the ball,” said Tom Stites, Nike Golf’s head of club research and development, in unveiling two new drivers, including one with a square shape.

In simplest terms, moment of inertia represents the stability of a club, as in its resistance to twisting. The higher the MOI, the more stable a club should be. Using a mathematical formula that determines MOI, the USGA has set 5,900 as the limit for golf clubs.
 

The Nike SQ Sumo2 driver has a retail price of $479.99.

In response, manufacturers are tinkering with ways to boost the MOI of drivers to approach the approved limit.

“A few years ago, the MOI of drivers was about 4,000,” said Stites. “With our SasQuatch driver (which will be phased out), we reached 4,700. Our new Sumo driver is 4,900 and our Sumo2 is in the 5,300 range.”

While the SQ Sumo is more traditional in shape, the SQ Sumo2 is square. Both will begin shipping in February.

Callaway unveiled three new drivers at the show which also begin shipping next month. One of those, called FT-i, is square in shape.
 

Callaway: The newest drivers are FT-i, FT-5 and Big Bertha 460.
The FT-i driver has a suggested retail price of $625.

But not all companies, and their engineers, are convinced square is the best way to go. TaylorMade, Adams, Nicklaus, Tour Edge and MacGregor all unveiled new drivers pushing the limits but with somewhat more traditional looks. Down the road, and not at the show, Cleveland, Cobra and Titleist are also gearing up with new drivers.

TaylorMade, for one, has been particularly vocal in not building a square driver, stating that the negatives of a square driver outweigh the positives that can be achieved in boosting MOI in other ways.


“There are some benefits [in square shapes], but not enough positives,” said Sean Toulon, TaylorMade Golf executive vp of product and brand creation. “As soon as you change geometry, everything changes, from spin rates, to MOI, launch angle and more.”

2007 is the year of weird geometry in golf

January 17, 2007. Source: The Charlotte Observer by Langston Wertz Jr.

It's about to be a weird-shaped world in golf. The heads of drivers are about to be square, pizza-shaped and oblong. The idea is to increase the moment of inertia, or square the face, to allow for straighter drives.

Look for square-shaped drivers from Nike (Sumo2) and Callaway (FT-i) and look for most manufacturers, including Titelist, Cobra, Tour Edge and Adams to release drivers that are different than anything you have seen.

The idea is make drivers you will hit better than ever.

"I think there's some truth behind the technology," said John Gamble, one of the Carolinas' most-reknown clubmakers and clubfitters and a regular Charlotte Observer consultant. "These companies have spent a lot of money researching this new geometry. I'm anxious to see if it'll help the average golfer lower his scores."

Cobra was the latest company to announce a high MOI driver, in its LD (Limit Dimensions) series.

The LD, the company says, uses the maximum allowed head length and width (promoting a low, back center of gravity and very high 5000 Moment of Inertia).

The new drivers utilize the following technologies:

• The largest face area in golf with milled Dual Rhombus for great forgiveness and high ball speeds across the face.

• Square face set-up for superior alignment and look at address.

• Premium Aldila NV, NVS and Mitsubishi Bassara shafts.

• "Speed tuned" in X Pro, F, and M models for optimal distance and accuracy by player type.

There will also be two new Speed X Pro Models: The Pro S shallow face and the Pro D deep face.

The Pro S has an extended head profile that promotes high MOI (4900). The Pro D has a slightly smaller profile but a deeper, larger face area. Both drivers are one degree open at address for tour performance/alignment and feature a weight adjustment screw (much like Baffler Pro) for custom shafts / swing weight adjustment in our customs manufacturing. More.

Nike Golf's geometry: Nike debuts radical new Square Sumo Driver

Golf Equipment.

October 10, 2006. Source: Nike Golf

See also: Nike's Choi wins with new SasQuatch Sumo²

The power of Nike Golf's geometry has led the way in taking the moment of inertia (MOI) in clubhead design to its highest level, it has made the award winning SasQuatch (SQ) driver by far the winningest driver on the 2006 PGA Tour - and now it's gone squared.

With today's announcement of the new square shaped SasQuatch SUMO² driver and the new SasQuatch SUMO driver, Nike Golf once again leads the way by elevating golf club design and creation to revolutionary and radical new levels. Nike Golf is the first to make it cool to be square.

Following in the giant footprint of the ground-breaking Nike Golf SasQuatch driver, Nike Golf has evolved the leading innovation of geometric design to bring golfers even more distance, forgiveness and accuracy through new record levels of MOI. Named SUMO for the SUper MOment of Inertia created by Nike Golf's geometric designs, the SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO sport the same distinctive yellow soleplate as the original SQ. Both the SasQuatch SUMO² and the SasQuatch SUMO will be shipped in mid-January 2007, to be available for purchase in golf shops and stores in the US on February 1.

Now even more visually distinctive due to its square head design, the SQ SUMO² features golf's highest MOI of 5300. This advanced MOI is created by the geometric square design combined with the utilization of a multi-material construction. A deeper beta titanium face, a titanium body and a composite crown combine to bring about material weight savings that are redistributed into the square design, making the driver hotter, longer and more responsive. As such, the square geometry dramatically enhances the SQ PowerBow and SQ Max Back Centre of Gravity (CG) technologies, which work together to increase MOI.

"Bringing a new product to market is always an exciting moment, but the introduction of the SQ SUMO² is particularly rewarding since this is the culmination of a vision that has been evolving for more than a decade," said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. "Now, with the power of Nike Golf geometrics, we've evolved my fascination with the possibilities and benefits of a square shaped driver into a performance enhancing reality for all golfers."

The SQ SUMO, which features an all-titanium head, incorporates the same design evolution of the SQ PowerBow and SQ Max Back CG, raising its new super MOI to 4950, the highest in an all-titanium driver. Nike Golf's club wizard Tom Stites' new design has created the ideal ratio between the width of the clubface and the depth of the club head. As with the SQ SUMO², the SQ SUMO geometry pushes the breadth-to-face length ratio up, resulting in a larger, more forgiving sweet spot.

"The uncompromising quest of Tom Stites and his Nike Golf research and development team to bring new and exciting technology to golfers has resulted in another break-through product introduction with the SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO," said Stan Grissinger, Category Business Director for Clubs and Balls for Nike Golf. "The industry-wide success of the SasQuatch driver franchise set new standards in 2006, and now the SasQuatch evolution to the SUMO and record MOI is poised to raise the bar yet again."

The SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO are both 460cc, feature SasQuatch/Diamana shafts, are available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° and 13° and will carry respective suggested retail prices of US$479.99 and US$359.99.

The introduction of the SasQuatch SUMO² and the SasQuatch SUMO comes at a time when Nike Golf is enjoying its rise as arguably the fastest growing golf company in the industry. It continues to enjoy global success as evidenced by the fact that three of its athletes lead the money rankings on three tours. Tiger Woods is the money leader on the PGA TOUR, Paul Casey holds the lead on the PGA European Tour's Order of Merit and Shingo Katayama ranks number one in money earnings on the Japan Golf Tour. Nike Golf also is the PGA TOUR in the following categories:

• Most driver wins with 15

• Most iron wins with 15

• Most fairway woods wins with 13

• Most wedge wins with 15

Woods signs third multiyear deal with Nike Golf

Dec. 13, 2006. Source: ESPN.com by Jason Sobel


Tiger Woods has signed a third multiyear agreement with the company, according to Nike Golf public relations manager Beth Gast.

"We were not really in the golf business," Woods said on Tuesday. "Now we are a leader in the golf industry. ... Going from basically a person who was just happy to be a part of the Nike company to helping out as much as I can, it's two totally different roles."

As per company policy, terms of the contract were not released. Woods' original contract with Nike was for a reported five years, $40 million. In 2001, he signed another five-year deal, for a reported $100 million.

"We're obviously delighted to be renewing our relationship with Tiger," Nike Golf president Bob Wood said. "Nike is lucky to have the kind of partnership with Tiger that goes beyond a simple endorsement. He has really helped Nike Golf grow over the years through his involvement in product development, whether it is clubs, balls, apparel or footwear. In the future, we see Tiger playing a key role in continuing the strong momentum Nike Golf now has both inside and outside the USA." More.

Nike's Choi wins with new SasQuatch Sumo²

October 31, 2006. Source: iseekgolf.com

Nike Golf's new square shaped SasQuatch Sumo² driver made a resounding statement on the PGA TOUR in only its second showing. This radical driver, which is causing a stir in the marketplace, helped Nike Golf Tour staff member K.J. Choi capture his fourth PGA Tour victory at the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida. Choi's powerful and accurate drives throughout the week were proof positive that the SQ Sumo² performs as explosively as it sounds.

Choi, who became the first player on the PGA Tour to put a square shape driver in his bag at the Funai Classic last week, produced a wow factor for both on-site and television spectators. He confidently and strategically boomed long drives straight down the middle of fairway after fairway en route to his four-stroke win. His victory with the new SQ Sumo² continues Nike Golf's unequalled dominance on the PGA Tour, bringing to 16 the number of wins in 2006, while sustaining its lead in driver, irons, fairway woods and wedge wins.

Meanwhile, Nike Golf extended its dominance at the top of the Japan Golf Tour's official money list when season leader Shingo Katayama extended his number one position by using his Nike Golf arsenal to win his third Japan Golf Tour win of 2006 at the ABC Championship. Katayama's victory this weekend is Nike Golf's 11th international tour victory this year, and the 27th globally.

Maximizing driver performance through geometry!

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

December 5, 2006. Source: TourEdge.com
 

But for many golfers hitting the ball straight is a constant struggle. Problem solved. Now golfers can hit straighter and longer drives with the GeoMax.

To-the-limit dimensions and a fixed 20-gram tungsten rear sole weight reposition the GeoMax's center of gravity deeper and lower in the head. This position dramatically increases the M.O.I. of the GeoMax to an incredible 5,000 g/cm2.

With the GeoMax, a balance has been struck between performance and appealing looks. We've moved the center of gravity lower and deeper than ever before by pushing the legal limits of the breadth-to-face-length ratio to .974.

Superior to traditional design specifications, this ratio delivers beefed up accuracy and forgiveness for heart-pounding drives.

According to David Glod, president and founder of Tour Edge Golf, "The GeoMax is designed to rival the performance of square shaped drivers but with an eye-appealing design and a classic sound not found in the competition's composite drivers. It delivers one of the highest MOI's in a driver for remarkable forgiveness that will keep you in the fairway and out of the rough."