What's new for 1999 - golf equipment

The ability to marry tradition and technology has long been the goal of the golf-equipment industry. While various manufacturers combine materials and metals in the search for optimum distance and forgiveness, shallow-face, low-profile woods continue to be the hot- ticket item. Some utilize space-age technology, while others are not all that distinguishable from their decades-old predecessors. And while most manufacturers still feature cutting-edge offerings, at least one major company combines modern technology with good old-fashioned stainless steel in a partial throwback to days gone by. Is retro equipment on the horizon? We'll see.

Two new entries from Cobra are the King Cobra Baffler L.P. (low profile) fairway woods and the Bobby Grace by Cobra Amazing Grace putter. The low- profile fairway woods are offset and have a wide sole. Available in 3+, 3, 5+, 7+ and 9+ models. The Amazing Grace features Cobra's HSM insert, a "smart sole" for less drag, says Cobra, and a shortneck hosel ($225 for woods, $142 for putter; 800-BAFFLER).

The Ping Ally putter is one of Karsten Manufacturing's three new putters for 1999 and combines the best features of the Anser and Zing models. The Ally is a stainless-steel, cavity-back model with a satin finish and comes with a new JP2 shaft that has a higher step pattern for a softer feel, says the company. The Ally also features three sightlines, the first time this has appeared on a Ping cavity-back model ($90 for Ally, $120 for Ally Isopur and new Darby Isopur; phone 800-528-0650).

Joining Callaway's new Big Bertha Steelhead line is the Little Bertha set of junior clubs. Key features: lightweight, flexible graphite shafts, kid-size grips, and medium and tall lengths. Driver has 4-wood loft, fairway wood has 7-wood loft. Irons are 6-, 8- and pitching wedge. The Steelhead metal woods, according to the company, have a lightweight crown plate and a precision-cast, variable-weight chip (2 grams to 20 grams) individually inserted near the heel for more precise weighting. (Little Bertha set is $500, Steelhead is $195 steel, $295 graphite; 800-228-2767).

Taylor Made gives the insert-putter category a twist with the debut of its Nubbins model. The putter features an elastomer insert that resembles a table-tennis paddle's face with tiny protruding nubs, hence the name. The company says the insert is designed to reduce skid time off the face and increase the impact force ($150; 800-456-8633).

Top-Flite's Tour wedge has a traditional-face profile and is available in 52-, 56-, 58- and 60-degree lofts. The company's Bi-Metal distance ball uses "Metal Matrix distance technology" that combines titanium in the cover with tungsten in the core. Also look for Top-Flite's reintroduction of a wound ball in 1999, possibly the Dot ($125 for wedge, $37 per dozen balls; 800-225-6601).

Orlimar's new TriMetal driver has the same features as the fairway woods-a stainless-steel shell with an Alpha Maraging face and copper- tungsten sole weighting. Comes in three lofts-7.5, 9 and 10.5-and five shaft flexes. The company also debuts TriMetal irons that come in three lie angles: 2 degrees flat, standard and 2 degrees upright ($440 for driver, $212 for each iron;800-833-4266).

MacGregor extends its Tourney Personal and Progressive Muscleback iron lines with five wedge offerings. The wedge line includes a 52-degree gap wedge, three sand wedges (two at 56 degrees and a 58-degree model) as well as a 60-degree lob wedge. All are made from forged carbon steel and feature 100 percent hard-chrome plating ($149; 800-841-4358).

The new Maxfli Revolution iron uses what the company calls a "multilayer production process." A soft nickel clubhead is covered by a hard chrome outer layer, thicker than other decorative finishes, says Maxfli. The irons have no offset and a straight leading edge ($649 steel, $849 graphite; 800-768-4727).

Adams adds to its Tight Lies line with a Strong 2 Tour Brassie and a 32-degree Strong 11. The 12-degree Strong 2 has a slightly deeper face than the original Tight Lies and was designed as a fairway wood that can be hit off the tee ($239; 800-622-0609).

Odyssey branches out from its putter expertise with a line of Dual Force wedges that feature Lyconite inserts. Lyconite is a lightweight, vibration-damping material that has been used on the outer covering of the Space Shuttle. Using it in a wedge allows more weight around the perimeter for increased forgiveness, says the com-pany ($130; 800-487- 5664).

Mizuno has two new irons: the cast T-Zoid Sure (top) and the forged T- Zoid Comp EZ (above). The Sure is an oversize, investment-cast iron with a sweet spot that, according to the company, is among the largest in the industry. The Comp EZ is an oversize cavity-back forging with a modified T-Zoid power bar. Mizuno also debuts the T-Zoid Pro Titanium driver and a new shoe, the Wave, that features a five-layer configuration for stability, comfort and traction ($752 for Sure, $960 for Comp EZ, $660 for driver, $150 for Wave; 800-333-7888).

Titleist's DCI 981 irons have progressive offset and generate, according to the company, a higher, straighter ball flight than the DCI 962. They also have a rear-cavity weight shelf for a lower center of gravity. The Vokey Design Wedges come in a classic teardrop shape 200 series, an oval with slight offset 300 series, and a classic square with a higher heel 400 series ($99 per iron steel, $139 graphite, $109 per wedge; 888-324-4766).

Precept's MC Double Cover D&S is an attempt to bring a softer feel and increased spin to a performance/distance ball. Includes a Muscle-Fiber core, a soft, high-repulsion distance inner cover and a soft, high- performance outer cover ($46; 800-358-6319).

Liquidmetal features four new offerings: a 260cc Pure Energy Transfer driver with a Liquidmetal face insert (shown), traditional cavity-back FA irons with a shortened hosel, a classic FA-1 heel-toe-weighted putter and an FA-2 face-balanced model. The alloy, according to the company, absorbs less energy, which results in a greater transfer of energy at impact ($595 for driver, $1,998 for irons, $400 per putter; 877-564-7467).

Slazenger adds the 408dr Raw Distance 3, a two-piece ball with titanium in both core and cover. The result is the company's longest distance ball to date ($38 per dozen; 800-766-2615).

Wilson's two-piece Staff Titanium Straight Distance ball has a new dimple pattern designed for distance and, according to Wilson, the lowest spin rate off the driver of any distance ball on the market. The Fat Shaft Dyna-Powered wedge couples the tradition of the popular 1958 Dyna-Powered wedge with half-inch diameter Fat Shaft technology ($35 per dozen, $120 for wedge; 800-622-0444).

Daiwa introduces a pair of irons: the TD153 forged iron (shown) and the TD252, which has a titanium-face insert. The TD153 is a midsize, forged cavity back with a thin top line and slight offset. The TD252 features a titanium insert 33 percent thicker than similar products, for added forgiveness, says Daiwa ($960 for TD252, $1,264 for TD153; 800-736- 4653).

Dunlop's shallow-faced entry is the stainless- steel DDHII OCG (Optimized Center of Gravity) Strong 3- and standard 3-, 5- and 7- woods. Includes two reverse soleplate rails for reduced turf drag and Pro Series FW (filament wound) graphite shafts ($60 steel, $90 graphite; 800-235-5516).

Cleveland debuts a line of wedges specifically designed for women. The 588W wedges have the same classic shape as the company's other wedges but come in lighter weights with a cobalt finish. Available in a 53- degree gap wedge, a 56-degree sand wedge and a 60-degree lob wedge ($105 steel, $116 graphite; 800-999-6263).

Teardrop employs its roll-face putter technology in the precision- milled TD Series. The company says its roll-face technology reduces skid time on putts and improves accuracy. The TD15 (shown) is one of five heel-toe weighted models in the series, which also features mallet and heel-shafted models ($225; 888-868-7984).

Two PowerBilt entries are the TPS 6.0 irons (shown) and Air Attack fairway woods. The oversize irons have the largest effective hitting area of any PowerBilt iron. The low-profile Air Attack woods feature the company's CNC (compressed nitrogen chamber) technology ($399 irons, $129 wood; 800-848-7693).

Three Yonex introductions are the Rekin Super II driver (shown), Rekin Super Blaster low-profile fairway woods and the Rekin Super II shallow- face Tita-nium/Tungsten irons. The Super II driver is made from forged titanium and features a 300cc head. The Super Blaster has tungsten inserts on the sole. The Super II irons have five tungsten weights in the back ($2,400 for irons, $650 for driver, $350 for Blaster; 800-44- YONEX).

McHenry Metals extends its TourPure metal-wood line with fairway woods that incorporate technology similar to the TourPure driver: a lightweight titanium shell with a beta-titanium face. High-density tungsten/copper rail inserts on the soleplate bring 55 percent of the clubhead's weight into the bottom half of the club, says the company. Available in strong 3, 3-, 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-woods ($500; 888-822-4900).

Carbite's Polar Balanced putters have more than 70 percent of the weight distributed in the heel and toe. This heel-toe weighting reduces club twisting on mis-hits, says the company. The ZH-Cavity model (shown) features a roughened bronze-tungsten carbide insert. Also in ZG-Mallet ($149; 800-641-0065).

Zevo's Fly-Ti Competition titanium driver features the ShotControl hosel. This allows Fly-Ti drivers, along with low-profile fairway woods and irons, to be configured to any lie and face angle using the same clubhead during fitting, says the company ($550 driver, $350 fairway woods, $200 per iron; 800-599-4653).

Ben Hogan's new Apex iron is a forged, muscleback carbon-steel model with a straight leading edge, somewhat similar to the company's 1988 version. The Apex shafts are frequency matched and available in three steel flexes: 3 (regular), 4 (firm) and 5 (extra firm) ($1,000 for 3- PW; 800-225-6601).

The Pinnacle Titanium Extreme ball features a heavier titanium-enhanced core with a titanium and Lithium/Surlyn cover for, says the company, the longest Pinnacle ball yet.

FootJoy DryJoys sport a "Uni-flex Torque Control" outsole with multiple traction points and seven spike receptacles. The footbed utilizes proprietary IntelliGel cushioning. Available in 11 models with a two- year limited waterproof guarantee. ($150 for DryJoys, $25 per 15-pack of Pinnacles; 800-225-5000).

Among four new Etonic models is the Ultimate 2000 (shown). Made from French calfskin leather, the Ultimate 2000 has a Gore-Tex waterproof lining, Goodyear welt construction and comes with dual-density TurfGrip cleats. Another innovation from Etonic, in conjunction with MacNeill Engineering, is the new ComfortCleat, a multilayer design with a softer outer layer for maximum cushioning and slip-resistance and a harder inner layer that shows through when the cleats need changing ($295; 800-638-6642).

In addition to its T@C: Traction at Contact technology that is included in the Air Zoom and Air Access lines, Nike also offers more traditional options in its Classic Series. One such model is the Air Zoom Tenaci (shown), an Italian-made, algonquin split-toe style that features a calfskin leather upper, leather outsole and Zoom Air units in the heel. The company's primary focus, the T@C: Traction at Contact, utilizes a green-friendly outsole designed for maximum stability and traction, says Nike. The outsole features 115 points of contact ($300 for Tenaci; 800-922-6453).

You've seen golfers with magnets on their backs and on their necks. Now magnets can be standard footwear equipment with the MagneForce by Florsheim-the first golf shoe with built-in biomagnetic technol-ogy, says the company. The theory, according to the company, is that the magnets built into the insoles will help increase blood flow to the feet and thus provide more energy in the legs and reduce muscle fatigue. Available in eight styles ($160; 800-800-1362).

The shoes in Dexter's 12-style Liberty Collection feature 209 traction points per pair and a three-year waterproof guarantee, the first such guarantee in the industry, says the company. Two other points of interest are the introduction of the company's exclusive Reactive spike (not shown), which, says Dexter, provides greater traction and durability while remaining green-friendly. Dexter is also using the Fast Twist spike-replacement system designed by Trisport, a triple- thread system that requires just a one-quarter turn clockwise for the spike to click into place ($100 to $120 for Liberty; 888-833-9837).

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