I'm coming from Footjoy (Dryjoys) and Adidas (Powerbands) into these Nikes, and I must say the number one differentiator between these and those is the traction. I don't know if it is the Scorpion spikes, the Traction At Contact configuration or what, but for some reason, these grip for me far bette... » More

I'm coming from Footjoy (Dryjoys) and Adidas (Powerbands) into these Nikes, and I must say the number one differentiator between these and those is the traction. I don't know if it is the Scorpion spikes, the Traction At Contact configuration or what, but for some reason, these grip for me far better than the aforementioned brands. At the closeout prices you can get these at nowadays, they are more than worth it. While the Dryjoys felt very cushy and the platform gave a lot, the TW 8.5 have more of a stiff, solid feel to them. I feel like I'm a little more stable in these, a little more like the Powerbands. I feel like these are slightly less comfortable than the Dryjoys (I think it's hard to compete on comfort with Footjoy). I have no problem walking a round in these, though I had blisters the first time out. These are one of the few square toed golf shoes I've found on the market, which, depending on your preference, is an attractive style. The styling is not too “out there”, and retains a classic look while still being fairly modern. These have worn quite well so far (2 months, playing 3-5 times a week). These use the Q-lok system (as all Nike shoes do), so keep that in mind; Fasttwist spikes will not work in these. I love these shoes and hope to stock up before they go out of production. » Close

I wasn't looking for a new driver when I demoed the s9-1 pro D. After having hit it, I traded the driver I was playing immediately for it. This is an incredible club. First of all, having played Cobra in the past, let me tell you off the top that the sound of the S9-1 is much muted from the Speed LD... » More

I wasn't looking for a new driver when I demoed the s9-1 pro D. After having hit it, I traded the driver I was playing immediately for it. This is an incredible club. First of all, having played Cobra in the past, let me tell you off the top that the sound of the S9-1 is much muted from the Speed LD and past Cobra models. This was a pleasant surprise and only mare the decision easier for me. The stock Xcon 6 Matrix shaft is a tip stiff, high ben point shaft that promotes high launch and low spin. Its a smooth shaft and takes a fair amount of load (my avg. driver ss is ~110). The deep face of the head helps lower spin even more. Balls seem to leap off the face and run out down the fairway when the ball comes down. It does launch fairly high though, so keep that in mind if your normal playing conditions are particularly windy. It is quite workable, right and left and not too bad to hit low though it takes a little extra work. I'm not going to put a handicap limit on who can hit this club, but I do think someone with fairly sound mechanics and a fair amount of clubhead speed will get the most out of it. The face also sits 1.5-2 degrees open; if your natural tendency is to slice, this will exacerbate the problem. At $400 retail, I'd say it's a little pricey, but an Xcon 6 shaft (retail) will run you $300; the only difference between the retail and the made-for is that the made-for shaft has a little more torque. This is an incredible combination and one that you should try if you're looking for a long monster off the tee. » Close

The feel off the face of this putter is incredible. Distance control is VERY forgiving; putts off the toe and heel do not seem to substantially affect the roll. The movable weights seem a little gimmicky, and the weights themselves are expensive (although they are the same as those used for the TM... » More

The feel off the face of this putter is incredible. Distance control is VERY forgiving; putts off the toe and heel do not seem to substantially affect the roll. The movable weights seem a little gimmicky, and the weights themselves are expensive (although they are the same as those used for the TM Drivers, and are interchangeable). The construction seems exceedingly solid and well built (it should be for $200). Many comment on the look (many don't like it), but it isn't unappealing to my eye. When all is going well, this thing putts itself. » Close