Blog: Bomb & Gouge

Balata and Persimmon? Not a chance

BOMB: Have you seen the recent Wall Street Journal column by John Paul Newport in which he details his experience playing a round with a wooden driver and balata golf balls? Mr. Newport was clearly...

By Mike Stachura

Published Jun. 04, 2009

Keywords Technology | Wall Street Journal | balata | bomb & Gouge | golf | irons | persimmon | titanium

Stachura: Blasts From The Past

A recent test proved current clubs let players swing faster than vintage clubs ever could. The reason why may surprise you

By Mike Stachura

Published May. 29, 2009

Keywords mike stachura | golf | golfworld | PGA Tour | blasts from the past | persimmon drivers | byron nelson | chad campbell | titleist | macgregor

Equipment: Recalling Wood Woods

Today's tour pros (those who remember it anyway) don't exactly pine for persimmon

By E. Michael Johnson

Published Mar. 18, 2008

Keywords E. Michael Johnson | Equipment | PGA Tour | LPGA Tour | irons | putters | drivers | woods | hybrids | bag room | spotted | tools | tricks | persimmon | loft

Equipment: Groove Rule Slowed?

USGA mum on proposal; sources say no tour changes likely for next year

By E. Michael Johnson

Published Apr. 30, 2008

Keywords E. Michael Johnson | Equipment | PGA Tour | LPGA Tour | Champions Tour | Boo Weekley | Tim Clark | Nicholas Thompson | allen doyle | dana quigley | mi hyun kim | morgan pressell | annika sorenstam | jim furyk | anthony kim | irons | putters | drivers | woods | hybrids | bag room | spotted | tools | tricks | persimmon

Equipment: A New Way To Go Low

Player comfort with adding hybrids -- especially more lofted ones -- grows on the pro tours

By E. Michael Johnson

Published Apr. 23, 2008

Keywords E. Michael Johnson | Equipment | PGA Tour | LPGA Tour | Champions Tour | Boo Weekley | Tim Clark | Nicholas Thompson | allen doyle | dana quigley | mi hyun kim | morgan pressell | annika sorenstam | jim furyk | anthony kim | irons | putters | drivers | woods | hybrids | bag room | spotted | tools | tricks | persimmon

Equipment: Poulter's Bad Break

Accidental or not, it's bad news when a club breaks outside the normal course of play

By E. Michael Johnson

Published Mar. 26, 2008

Keywords E. Michael Johnson | Equipment | PGA Tour | Ian Poulter | jack nicklaus | tiger woods | robert garrigus | chris dimarco | steve stricker | stephen ames | reteif goosen | irons | putters | drivers | woods | hybrids | bag room | spotted | tools | tricks | persimmon | loft

Equipment: Long To Be Gone?

Once plentiful on the PGA Tour, belly and long putters have been declining in numbers

By E. Michael Johnson

Published Apr. 01, 2008

Keywords E. Michael Johnson | Equipment | PGA Tour | Ian Poulter | jack nicklaus | tiger woods | robert garrigus | chris dimarco | steve stricker | stephen ames | reteif goosen | irons | putters | drivers | woods | hybrids | bag room | spotted | tools | tricks | persimmon | Tom Lehman | vijay singh | reteif goosen | sergio garcia | david mathis | geoffrey sisk | alex cejka | Stacy Prammanasudh | woody austin | mike weir