MOI DSII Irons: A value packed muscleback from an up-and-comer

As tested: 3-PW with stiff flex Apollo shafts and Tacki-Mac grips.  Custom options available via MOIgolf.com

PROS: One of the softest, best feeling castings I've ever hit, excellent looks, pleasing price tag

CONS: Finishes wears very easily, grips lose tack rather quickly

OVERALL: A $500 set that plays to easily double that price.  If you're looking for something to stand out with, give these guys a call.

From the blog:

For a company most well-known for producing long-drive competition equipment, MOI golf has cast a formidable contender into the ring of player's irons at a price that should have the big guys sitting up and taking notice.

Address:

Even though they are a player's iron in a muscleback configuration, the generous offset and medium thickness top line inspire confidence from the minute you set the club on the turf.  As evidenced in the pictures, the sole is a little wider than my current 710MB set, making these a fairly forgiving set of irons.  The other notable trait in this set is that they seem to play a shade lighter than anything else I've tried, making the initial takeaway very smooth, and I found my swing plane to be much more consistent when banging test shots between my own Titleist 7 iron and the MOI 7 iron. 

Here you can see the compact head, excellent contrast, and propensity for wear.

Feel:

I normally devote quite a bit of space to feel.  I can do that here, but honestly, there isn't much need to read past the next sentence.  These are, quite simply, the best feeling set of $500 irons I have ever hit.  I had to re-confirm with Scott Chandler, President of MOI golf, that these were indeed cast and not forged out of a hard steel.  While they aren't as buttery as a classic Mizuno, they rank right up there with classic cast irons like the Ping Eye 2 and the TaylorMade R7.  Solid hits are rewarded with a muted feeling and incredible distance, and off-center hits are not punished nearly as harshly as they should be.  Trust me, I had more than my share of mishits.  Because I didn't want to skew this review too much, I asked both our club champion and the senior club champ to put these irons through their paces on the driving range.  Separately, I was told they felt incredible, and when told the retail price, were shocked to learn that quality can still be had so cheap.

Finish:

The catch-22 on this iron set is the finish.  When they arrive, they are nothing short of stunning.  White grips, black Apollo shafts, black ferrules, black PVD finish on the clubheads.  These clubs are meant to be shown off, and even the most equipment shy golfers will have trouble keeping these bad boys under wraps.  That is, until you hit a few warm-up balls on the range.  The finish instantly begins to wear, and my set suffered from significant finish wear from bag chatter after a session where I walked 9 holes.  The good news is that I was able to touch them up somewhat with some Birchwood Casey Super Blue from out local outdoor store.  Honestly, I'd be upset if these were $1000 irons wearing this way, but at $500, you cannot go wrong anyway they come.

Sole wear and comparison between MOI 7 iron and Titleist 710MB 7 iron.

Overall:

Despite the minor drawbacks on the finish, it is highly encouraging for me to see a small niche company such as Scott's take off.  The thing that impressed me the most is that irons are not his primary business, yet he (through MOI Golf) has found a way to create greatness at a price point that rivals the big box stores, and turns up the heat on some of your all-time favorites.  If you're looking for something that feels fantastic, is unique, and can shoo your old Pings away, check out Scott and his company at http://www.moigolf.com.  You'll be glad you did.

Piretti Cortina: A Diamond in the Rough

Available Specs: unlimited options via http://www.pirettigolf.com

As tested: Piretti Cortino putter, headweight 360 grams, True Temper putter shaft, Lamkin grip

PROS: Softer than Country-Crock in the microwave, classic styling, heavy weighting, lower-than-normal loft ensures a true roll off the face
CONS: A little pricey for a smaller manufacturer, some golfers find the weight to be too much
OVERALL: Worth a roll if you're looking for a conversation starter that can actually sink putts

From the blog:
Not just another Anser clone, the Piretti line of putters is from a surprisingly small Houston outfit that has every intention of running with the big boys...and they have the talent to do so.  I met these guys at the AT&T Championship in San Antonio last October, and it was all I could do to get a word in with Mike Johnson, President of Piretti.  The Champions Tour players were walking off left and right with his creations, and it was immediately evident that Mike couldn't have been happier.  However, he gave me his full attention on the putting green when I asked if I could roll a putter.  Because I love the Anser style, and I was playing a Scotty Cameron California Monterey at the time, Mike suggested I try the yet-to-be-released Cortina.  The rest is outlined below...

Just another Anser clone?  Think again...

Address:
There isn't much to say about the address of this stick and, for once, that's a good thing.  I was immediately put at ease when I put a ball down.  It's a classic style, plain and simple.

Address

Feel:

From the instant you pick a Piretti up, the weight is evident.  It's heavy -- my model is 365 grams, almost 30 grams over normal retail putters.  The reasoning for the weight is sound - a heavier putter smoothes out an imperfect stroke.  It also allows for a more natural stroke on slower greens and uphill putts.  One drawback: on greens I play at my club (ranging from 9 to 11 on the stimpmeter), downhill putts can really get out of hand.  There is a learning curve, but its not that big of a hinderance.  Once you get past the weight, the next thing you notice is that putts come off the face with very little hop - even long lag putts come off smooth and true.  The reason is because Piretti employs a far lower loft than other putter manufacturers.  Unless its been to a shop, any Scotty or Bettinardi you've played has 4* of loft.  At that loft, a well struck putt may actually come off the green for a short time, possibly leading to a poor putt or a modified line than originally intended.  Piretti goes with 2.5* of loft out of the box, and I noticed right away that my putts rolled truer, and started out on the line that I intended them to be on. 

Sole

Deep Face Milling

Overall:

It is strikingly evident from the instant you set your grip on a Piretti that you're handling a quality flat-stick.  The depth of knowledge these guys have, coupled with the incredible enthusiasm they have for design-enhanced function is a breath of fresh air among the faceless and personality-free assembly lines that so many other "premium" putters are born from.  If you're looking for Tour treatment, endless customization and a putter that may never leave your bag, look up Piretti Golf.

Titleist 710MB: A Blade for Everyone?

Available Specs:

Lofts: 3-PW

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 (upgrades available via Titleist)

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Finish: Bright Chrome

As Tested: 4-PW with TT DGS300 shafts (stiff flex), GP Tour Velvet Grips

PROS: Compact, Forged, soft 1025 carbon, pleasantly forgiving

CONS: Thinner-than-normal-for-a-blade sole, slightly intimidating at address, offset more-so than most blades 

OVERALL: One of the most forgiving blades available, feels great, an argument could be made for Titleist’s strongest offerings in player’s clubs to date

From the blog:

In the middle of its product lifecycle, the Titleist 710MB is the current player’s iron in the lineup.  Soft and long on pure hits, surprisingly forgiving on mishits and a sexy, simple design make the 710MB worth a hard look if you’re considering a set of do-it-all blades.

Address:

One of the first things you notice about the 710 MB is just how little of the club you see at address.  It takes a little getting used to, but soon you find yourself less concerned with seeing a shovel and focusing on the ball.  On the range, I hit 10 balls with a 710MB 7 iron, and then 10 with an AP2 7 iron and by the 4th ball with the AP2 I was itching to ditch it for the 710.  One thing to consider, the 710s are only slightly less offset than the AP2, which says more than a mouthful for its forgiveness.

Feel:

I have played just about every Titleist iron out there...starting from DCI all the way through the Z-Muscle Backs.  Until this review, my favorite set was a tie between the 680 blade and the 735.CM blended set.  Both were a simply designed, soft forged iron offering superior playability and feel.  My new favorite is the 710.  On a pure hit, it's buttery soft, emanating the signature Titleist ‘click’, and mishits are not punished nearly as harshly as other blades.  Sure, you’ll lose some distance, but you aren’t treated to stinging in the hands or rocked elbows, even with the DG S300 shaft.  Short of the Mizuno MP32, its the best feeling blade I’ve ever hit.  Something to note...if you hit your shots fat, you may want to consider another set with wider soles.  The 710s have a very thin sole, and fat shots are especially exaggerated with the club’s tendency to dig.  These are fairly low bounce clubs as well, so you will want a good option to get you out of deep rough (I carry an 18* hybrid for knockdowns out of thick rough).

Overall:

The Titleist 710MB shines as one of the best player’s sets on the market...good enough to run with Scratch and Miura by all means.  If you’re in the market for a great set of highly playable blades under $1,000, the 710MB deserves a test hit.

Titleist 910H Hybrid: A solid long-iron replacement

Available specs:

Lofts: 17*, 19*, 21*,  24*

Shafts: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana 'Ahina and Kai'li for Titleist (other options available via custom order from Titleist)

As tested: 21*, 'Ahina stiff-flex shaft

PROS: Larger than last years 909, SureFit Tour adjustability, hot face, great distance off the deck or the tee

CONS: Black face wears with use, SureFit Tour wrench is not included with hybrid or fairway woods

OVERALL: A worthy upgrade over the 909, and a great replacement for your ailing 3, 4 and even 5 iron(s)

MyGolfConcierge.net Review:

A model-line refresh did not overlook the hybrids at Titleist.  The 'made-for' shafts are very good, the feel and sound are exceptional, and the option for SureFit adjustment make the 910H a solid performer and replacement for your long irons.

Address:

The 910H inspires confidence at address.  The toe of the club is a little more square than the 909, which aids in squaring the ball in the center of the face.  It's subtle, but natural.  In the configuration I tested, the black 'Ahina shaft blended into the black SureFit hosel and ran uninterrupted into the black crown and face.  I am really starting to prefer this look, because of the great contrast between the white ball and black face.  The Adams I recently reviewed executed this concept very well, and the 910H does too.

Face/Sole:

This is one of the most attractive Titleist woods to date.  The black face, although it will wear with use, is a work of art.  Aside from a weight screw, the sole is no-frills, as is the face

Performance
To me, hybrids and rescue clubs were never accurate tools that facilitated scoring opportunities.  They were crutches that I used when I was not hitting a 3-wood well, or a just a long club with a flat sole that I could really punch out of the rough with.  My favorite shot with these clubs is one where I take my hands back to 9 o'clock, hold the release a bit, and hit a 160 yard slight fade that would put me within a sand wedge of the green.  The 910 has changed that.  I found the 21* model to be incredibly accurate and forgiving with an 80% swing and 200 yards in.  To ensure this club wasn't a range queen, I played a few balls from a 180 yard approach on my favorite par 5 at my club...one that has a large oak tree about 100 yards in front of the green...meaning that not only would I have to get the ball in the air, I needed to carry about 120 to ensure I wasn't punching one out from under a tree branch.  The 910 performed wonderfully.  I could dial in the ball flight by opening or closing my stance slightly, which translated into a really nice running draw or a fade that actually would check up and stop.  It's the first club longer than a 6-iron that I have had true confidence with.  I would imagine that the shaft had something to do with it, as Titleist claims that the stock offerings are no longer the junk they sold as 'made for' in last years models.  The "blueboard" in my 909 was an absolute joke, and before the club met its demise on craigslist I put a 3 iron steel shaft in it, to no avail.  It was just not a quality club by any stretch.  Again, the 910 changes that entirely by offering a quality shaft and consistent performance.

SureFit Tour Adjustability
I'd really love to write about the SureFit Tour hosel that offers 16 settings of adjustability for loft/lie, but Titleist does not include a wrench with the hybrids or the woods.  Its a shame, because I feel like I only have half the story with this club.  When I asked the guys in the pro shop, they told me that when the shipment of 910 gear arrived, they were only given 5 wrenches for the year, and to only include them with the drivers.  I am going to scour ebay and try to find one that I can use for testing.  But, based on looks alone, the hosel is only slightly fatter than a normal offering, and certainly does not detract from the looks of the club.  Again, I am really taking a shine to the black shaft/black hosel/black head/black face look...contrasts very nicely with the ball.  I am hoping to review the R11 TP soon to see how a white head matches up.  Overall, Titleist gets an A for design.

Overall
More than just a model-line refresh, the 910 Hybrid combines an excellent stock shaft, visually pleasing head and fantastic performance from the tee or off the deck.  It should definitely be at the top of your list when you're shopping for your next utility wood.

Pardon MOI? Moment of what??

5 years ago, buying a new driver was a far less scientific purchase than it is today.  Marketers hyped up volume...most drivers were between 380-420cc, and all you needed to know was that bigger was better.  I remember when a good friend of mine got an early Nike Sasquatch that was 460cc and I thought it was an absolute monster.  It was huge, and rewarded a far less than perfect swing.  Little did I realize that it was MOI, or moment of intertia, not the size, that was rewarding a poor swing.  Nike just happened to be on the cutting edge of the MOI wars.

So, what is MOI?

Simply put, MOI is a resistance to twisting.  Because I am not an engineer, I will not bore you with the science, just the practical knowledge.  But, Imagine the feeling you have when you hit a ball off the toe of your driver.  If you hit it far enough off the toe, you get a sensation that the head turned out a bit, right?  Thats MOI at work.  Low MOI, but its MOI.  When you hit a ball in the center of the face, it feels stable, solid, and powerful.  MOI is also at work here as well.  A club with higher MOI will resist the urge to twist against the force of hitting the ball more so than a club with low MOI.  Every club in your bag has some sort of MOI rating (even your putter).  However, you probably feel it most in your woods because of the lighter weight of the overall club and a hollow chamber behind the clubface.

How do clubmakers compensate?

Although I am not a huge fan overall of Nike, in my opinion, they lead the MOI charge (or at least effectively marketing it).  Most of their driver line over the past 3-5 years have been leaders in MOI.  Simply put, their drivers are a little more forgiving on mishits than most others.  TaylorMade has also jumped into the game, and part of the movable weight technology that started in the R5 series helps spread even weight across the clubface to help balance MOI and hit straight, long shots regardless of impact area.

What does this mean for me?

I would say that if you’re playing a driver from 2005 or earlier, you’re leaving yards on the box.  Just about every manufacturer is making clubs these days with a much higher MOI rating than they were even 2 years ago.  I’d say if you’re anywhere near the market for a new driver, start looking now.  Personally, I’d start with the Adams I recently reviewed, the 9064LS and then the new Nike VR Red Tour driver with the variable compression channel.  Above all, hit them straight!

Comparison/Review: 2011 Pro V1/2010 Pro V1

Starting on January 1st, 2010, club manufacturers began adhering to a new set of rules regarding club grooves.  The Royal and Ancient, after a statistical study, somehow correlated reduced Driving Accuracy with a higher percentage of saving par, and determined that sharper grooves on clubs greater than 25* (5 iron and above) gave an unfair advantage to “highly skilled” players out of rough, resulting in abnormally low scores.  Really?  I’m not here to judge, so I won’t.  The point is, that if you’ve bought a wedge since 1/1/2010 you’re playing with duller, shallower conforming grooves.  So, what’s an amateur to do?

What ball are you playing?

Fortunately for you, manufacturers have responded with innovation in the ball space:  TaylorMade has released the 5 layer Penta TP, Callaway has the Tour i(s) and i(x), and Titleist has recently refined the ProV1, which I’ll be discussing here.  But, I’ll be blunt:  If you’re still playing a Top Flite or Pinnacle, you’re leaving shots on the table.  Although you may be saving scratch at the register, you’re giving it to your buddies on the course.  I’ve never played a distance ball I could control, even with razor sharp wedges.  I started playing the ProV1 exclusively over the TaylorMade TP Black about 2 years ago and I am glad I never looked back.  If you’re looking to make the switch, the 2011 ProV1 may be your best bet.

Are they really that different?

Yes, they are.  Cosmetically, as you can see, the ‘ProV1’ script matches Titleist headwear, and the alignment arrow is unbroken.  Also, what may not be obvious from the photo is the arrangement of the grooves on the ball.  The old ProV1 on the right has dimples arranged in a somewhat star shape, whereas the 2011 model’s dimples are, as the best way I can put it, smile shaped.  From what I have been told this is to help give the ball a higher flight path and a deeper approach angle to the green (at least that’s the idea).

Do they work?

Given that I am not a scientist or engineer, I conducted my own real-world test the best way I know how:  I went out late in the afternoon at my club and staked out a spot 140 yards out from my favorite hole and started hitting approach shots.  140 is a funky distance for me, and I chose it on purpose because I can either hit a soft 8 or a striped 9 and hit the same target.  I hit 10 shots each with both the 8 & 9 (Titleist 710MB, which is a conforming groove), and on first impressions, the 2011 ProV1 delivers on its marketing.  My soft 8 irons landed fairly steep but still managed to release 3-5 yards, and my smashed 9 irons came in like a SCUD missle, took a bounce, and nearly left tire treads from spinning back so fast.  And while the 2010 model did much of the same, they just didn’t seem to pop off my clubs like the 2011 did.  I would liken it to the difference in 12 and 18 year old scotch...even the most non-seasoned drinker can appreciate the difference.  So, just for grins, I hit a few sand shots, where the 2011 was largely the same, and they seemed to check up a little faster from 40 yards in with a high lofted wedge.  In order to check this claim of higher ball flight, I took a few to the next tee box and had at them.  Not only did they seem to take a higher ball flight, they also seemed to release a little more on the fairway as well.  One pleasant surprise:  they’re quite durable, as I used the same dozen for my testing and the 2011s didn’t get an nearly nicked up as the 2010s.

Overall:

With a higher ball flight, more durable cover, and better performance off duller, shallower grooves, the 2011 ProV1 ball may be the answer to your short game woes.  Give it a look.

Adams 9064LS: Not your father's driver

Available Specs:

Loft: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5

Shafts: Aldila RIP gamma (high launch) or alpha (low launch) in R,S,X flex

Length: 45.5”

Volume: 460cc

As tested: 9.5, RIP Alpha S-flex

PROS: Forgiving off the tee, great stock shaft, very long, no center marker

CONS: no center marker, black finish on face wears easily

OVERALL: A bargain of a package for the price, length, and satisfaction of a drive well hit

From the blog:

The latest model in a line of under-marketed and under-appreciated woods is, in a few words, an absolute joy to hit.  Paired with a tour-quality shaft and a deep (but forgiving) face, the 9064LS is a consistent, dependable workhorse that can be relied upon on every tee box.

Address:

At address, the 9064LS is about as plain as they come. The black grip, black shaft, black hosel and black head flow uninterruptedly into a black face that contrasts well with a white ball.  It should be noted that this driver does not have an aiming guide, but I (and everyone else I spoke to about it) had no trouble lining up to center.  Compared to drivers like the Titleist 907 or the Taylormade Supertri, the head appears compact due to its roundness over its peer’s more traditional pear shape.

Face/Sole:

I normally do not dedicate time to the face of a driver unless there is something that needs to be covered.  However, I wanted to take a little space to discuss the black face of the 9064LS.  If you live in an area where the range or teeboxes are grass on top of mostly a sand surface, you will likely hit some sandy balls.  That being said, the finish on the face and sole will begin to wear over time.  Personally, I don’t worry too much about it, because it does not distract at address, but be aware.  A plus for the black finish is that you can see instantly where you hit a ball on the face, as white balls will leave a fairly distinct mark.  When I hit a shank, I instantly turn the club over and 9 times out of 10, its got a nice ball print on the toe.

Shaft:

One of the key factors that sets the Adams apart from the competition is the fact that for the base price, you get a real Aldila RIP shaft.  Not a “made for” version like so many other manufacturers offer, but a real-deal, tour-proven Aldila RIP.  Considering that 10 months ago I paid almost $300 to get a tour issue version to use in my old Supertri, the availability of this shaft is a huge boon for the club.  The RIP does not disappoint in the 9064LS.  Early models I played with were about a half flex soft, even with tipping, so I was a little worried that this one would play the same.  It didn’t, it played to its advertised flex, and I was pleasantly surprised.  I am not sure if it was a lighter head or revised manufacturing, and I don’t really care.  All I know is that this shaft took everything I threw at it gracefully:  3/4 speed swings, 100% swings, and didn’t even bark when I went a little overboard.  The shaft comes in two configurations:  Gamma (yellow eyes) and Alpha (red eyes).  Gamma is a higher launch shaft, and Alpha is lower launch.  Most of us amateurs could get more yardage out of a higher launch, higher loft shaft, but in my model, the Alpha proved to be more of a mid-launch than low-launch model.  You really can’t go wrong either way.  And, thankfully, both models are available in Regular, Stiff and X-Flex, so your dad can get in on the fun as well.

Overall:

The Adams 9064LS is a subtle, high performance driver that offers outstanding forgiveness and silly-long distance.  It’s a bargain with the RIP shaft, and should be strongly considered when you’re building your bag for the next big buddies trip.