Equipment

'Tis the season for new drivers

August 05, 2007
equipment-2007-09-eqar01_newdrivers0709.jpg

Technically, drivers can't get any bigger, but that hasn't slowed designers from attempting to do more with the 460 cubic centimeters of volume the Rules of Golf allow. That's why this fall we'll see another rush of new drivers, starting with the third in the G-series from Ping. The G10, which also comes in a Draw version, will feature a weight-saving thin crown, an expanded front-to-back measurement and a taller face with an increased face-perimeter area designed to improve off-center-hit performance ($300, pinggolf.com). "What we've tried to do," says Ping design manager Brad Schweigert, "is control the way the crown and sole react at impact to improve launch conditions."

Don't expect Ping's new entry to be alone for long. Bobby Jones,Srixon and Wilson, among others, are in line to introduce drivers later this fall, each designed at stretching the 460cc frame by using thin crowns or composite materials in key areas.