“2010 MYGOLFSPY PGA SHOW AWARDS!”

Welcome to the 2nd Annual “MyGolfSpy PGA Show Awards!”

Staying true to our roots…we will do things a little differently then your used to seeing from other golf publications when it comes to our golf awards for the 2010 PGA Show.  At MGS you won’t find awards being given to companies just because of their name, status in the golf world or reputation…or awards being given to companies that spend more money advertising with us. What we do is award those companies and products that are truly the most “Innovative” and the ones that are the “Envelope Pushers” in the industry.

So…you won’t see a “Golf Digest – Hot List” type format where 10 irons get a gold medal or 10 different iron sets are awarded top-notch honors and 10 more get silver.  That has become their formula to keep all the big guys (that pay their bills) happy…which in the end helps the consumer none.   The MGS Awards are not given to simply the “Creators” but rather the true “Innovators” in the industry and also the guys out there making a difference when it comes to the golf equipment available to you.

BEST NEW DRIVER FOR 2010!

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  1st Place – Callaway FT TOUR
  Callaway has stuck with the carbon composite technology even though they had some rough years with it.  But they have been improving on it every year little by little.  This technology gave a lot of OEM’s fits when it came to sound and performance in it’s early stages.  Callaway has made major improvements on both those fronts with this model.  We found the Callaway FT TOUR to be the best driver at the 2010 PGA Show.  It is longer and straighter then all their previous models to date and looks more traditional and also feels incredibly solid.
  
  
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  2nd Place – Ping G15
  Every time Ping comes out with a new driver it is one of the last ones we try just because they don’t try to hype theirs up as much and the fact that just by looks alone they don’t seem to be technology driven.  But every year we test their new driver we always leave the range wondering how they made such an ordinary driver perform so well.  Well it’s called a lot of common sense R&D if you ask me.  Like we have said before they consider looks last and performance first…which a lot of companies don’t do anymore.  Kind of like having an amazing paint job on a car but having a 4-cylinder under the hood.  The Ping G15 could have easily taken 1st with this new driver.  It’s longer, straighter and overall just a better driver then almost everything out there.

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  3rd Place – Adams 9032LS
  Just as we predicted back in 2008. Aerodynamics would be the next big thing in driver designs…and our prediction has proved true.  But I feel Adams has up to this point produced the best driver with this aerodynamic technology being implemented.  I like their 9015D a little better from last year but I feel this driver was a little more forgiving just not as much roll.  But that is not always a bad thing.

BEST NEW IRON FOR 2010!

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  1st Place – Mizuno MP-58 Irons
  No secret to our readers that I am now bagging the MP-58’s from Mizuno.  And as I said in our review that is because I simply could not find a better iron to replace them…they are that good.  They have always had incredible forgings but they stepped it up a notch this year when I thought there was no way they could.  The technology behind this iron produces one of the most forgiving and incredible feeling irons I have ever hit.  They have absolutely raised the bar for other companies to try and match the MP-58’s performance.
  
  
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  2nd Place – Ping G15 Irons
  Now the G15 irons don’t fit my profile as a player.  Although if you are looking for an iron that makes it like almost cheating to play the game of golf…then this might be the iron for you.  It seems like no matter where you hit the ball on the face…Ping has figured out a way for it to feel good.  Their research and testing at Ping has led to one if not THE easiest irons you will ever hit.  You can almost close your eyes and still hit the ball solid.  I have to congratulate Ping on once again some very rarely seen innovation to a fairly stagnant iron industry.
  
  
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  3rd Place – Scratch Golf
  There are not many companies around in the iron industry that will customize the average golfers iron purchase as much as Scratch golf.  Their business model has been built on making a set that actually is shaped and ground to your unique needs.  Which believe me is needed when purchasing a set of sticks.  Only problem is they are becoming more and more popular and they are going to reach a threshold to where they might not be able to customize them as much to each customer as they have been able to in the past.

BEST NEW HYBRID FOR 2010!

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  1st Place – Adams Pro Black
  There are a ton of new hybrids this year…but for the most part it was the same ‘ol same ‘ol when it came to their design, shape and the technology that went into them.  Although we couldn’t say that about the new Adams Pro Black Hybrid…but what we can say is that Adams continues to push the envelope with their hybrids and it was no where more apparent then in the Pro Black.  This thing just looks the part…it might not be for every style golfer but they have created an amazing looking and performing hybrid for the better player.  You mostly see either hybrids nowadays that either are almost a fairway wood in size or one that just looks like a fat backed iron.  But Adams has honestly made a true hybrid of both in shape and form.  And if we were to just rank them on looks…their would be ZERO competition for the Pro Black.
  (Not recommended for slower swing speeds)

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  2nd Place – Ping G15 Hybrid
  When hybrids came out you almost knew instantly they were here to stay.  Too many people had problems being consistent with a fairway wood…it was just the next logical step…well seems logical now after years of them being out but at the time it was revolutionary.  But people still have problems with hitting many hybrid designs consistently as well.  Well…Ping has the solution to many golfers problems with the release of their Ping G15 Hybrid.  This hybrid is more iron like in its design but there is a lot more going under the hood then meets the eye with this one trust us.  They got this one dialed in for the game-improvement market.  It exudes confidence at address.
  
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  3rd Place – Ping i15 Hyrbid
  No you are not seeing things…Ping won both 2nd and 3rd for best hybrid at the 2010 PGA Show.  I actually think that the Ping i15 performs better then the Adams all-around but we base a lot of our awards on innovation and not saying this one is not innovative but I felt the Adams is actually changing the way the entire golf industry looks at designing hybrids when they begin at the drawing boards…and where the Ping i15 is not different in shape or design although it’s performance for the better golfer is un-deniable.

BEST NEW PUTTER FOR 2010!

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  1st Place – Cleveland BRZ Putters
  While the new Cleveland BRZ series of putters might not look very innovative in shape and design they make up for it in consumer-friendliness.  Almost every popular putter company or designer has remade the classics…as can be seen by example HERE.  But none of them have offered their line at under $90!  Cleveland has accomplished something no other putter company has been able to do and that is to bring the classic designs of the past back to the masses at an affordable price while not sacrificing much in regards to look and feel and design.
  
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  2nd Place – Edel Golf
  You might have never heard about Edel putters before now but that is not because the guy doesn’t make good putters.  Many of the big OEM’s have approached him about being their version of a Scotty Cameron.  But the reasons why he has not become a household name is really why he ranks 2nd amongst our best putters for the 2010 PGA Show.  You see David fitting system I believe is one if not THE best in the industry.  Problem is it is complex and takes time to get your results…well too much time for the big OEM’s to pick him up because time is money to them and they would rather sell a lot of putters that don’t fit golfers then sell a lot less putters that do fit the golfer.  His system is not based on the “bottom line” or profits.  If it was he would be more well known then he is…but his system is sound and he believes in it and that is saying something for a guy in the putter industry.  He believes in it so much that he would rather improve a golfers game then empty  their wallets.  Kudos to Edel Putters and I am sure you will be hearing more about him on MGS during 2010 ;)
  
  
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  3rd Place – Odyssey BackStryke
  Ok…Ok…before all you guys who are loyal MGS readers start to say that I am crazy for picking the BackStryke for an award here me out on this.  Yes these putters look odd and yes they might not be something you would feel comfortable putting with.  But remember neither were 460cc drivers years ago and neither were square or triangular shaped heads.  But almost all of us have seen benefits from these previously mentioned designs.  And let’s face it more new putters come out every year then any other club in the bag…it is also the most changed club in the bag.  And the reason why is because besides sound and feel they all are relatively similar in results.  And one of the reasons why is because of alignment and aim issues.  And if you think of this putter more like a pool cue vs. a putter you will start to see how this has some merit to it.  If you were to hit a pool shot you would much rather have yourself well behind the ball in comparison to hitting the same shot standing directly over it.  That is because you can visualize it much better from behind the ball.  And these putters do help you visualize your putt better…which referring to putter technology is HUGE. I am not a fan of the models they have but I do support the theory behind it.  I actually have some putters using similar technologies from about 10 years ago and they do work.  And I think that Odyssey has improved on the design of the entrance of the shaft compared to those earlier models pretty significantly.  And also it is tough to give an award to just another $325 100% milled putter that looks like all the rest of the putters for the last 25 years.  So I give them this award for thinking outside the box and coming out with a design that pushes the envelope and still provides a solid value to many golfers.

BEST NEW WEDGE FOR 2010!

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  1st Place – Mizuno MP T10
  When it comes to wedges theirs not a whole lot technology is going to help you...well at least in regards to all the bells and whistles kind of technology you see being used on other clubs.  Much of the performance in a wedge that helps a golfer with his game comes from some very intricate and often overlooked radiuses, grinds, weight placements, etc. And after testing almost all the wedges from every aspect that comes up in a round of golf (fairway, bunker, fringe) I feel the Mizuno wedge was the most versatile.  Might be surprising to all the devoted Cleveland and Vokey fans…but the Mizuno MP T10 should seriously be considered if you are looking for a new wedge.
  
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  2nd Place – (TIE) Titleist Vokey Spin Milled & Cleveland CG 15
  Not many weaknesses on any front for these two wedges.  They are both well known for their constant refinement of clubs they have been shaping for what seems like an eternity.  And believe or not you might not see a whole lot of changes in their designs but they still get better almost every year.
  
  
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  3rd Place – Scratch Golf
  Lots of companies make wedges but very few of them match a players swing style as well as Scratch has done with their line.  Almost all the major companies offer custom grinds but most of the time this is reserved only for tour aspiring players.   Scratch Golf offers it to any and every consumer that purchases any of their wedge.  Couple this with the fact that the wedges are some of the best feeling short sticks ever to be made in the industry and you see why they are quickly becoming the rock stars of the wedge world.

Day 1 – LINKS (Part 1) – Click Here

Day 1 – LINKS (Part 2) – Click Here

Day 2 – PHOTOS – Click Here

Day 3 – VIDEOS (Part 1) – Click Here

Day 3 – VIDEOS (Part 2) – Click Here