2009 GOLF Buyer's Guide: Drivers
(1 of 20)
Adams Speedline
$299, graphite; adamsgolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Scott Burnett, Director of advanced product development: "We sorted through reams of data showing that 'large footprint' drivers create drag and slower clubhead speed. So we set out to design a superior driver that's aerodynamically shaped. We developed the Speedline through wind-tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics. The result is 50 percent less drag and more distance because of the increased clubhead speed."
How it works: Company research reveals that the crown in 460cc geometric drivers (large footprint, sloping crown, long from face to rear) creates lots of drag. The effect is that players swing these clubs 3 percent slower than standard 460cc heads. Speedline seeks to reverse this trend, and improve airflow, with a reshaped crown (peak height is much higher than topline), reduced frontal cross-sectional area (heel and toe cutouts) and "optimized" face. Adams says the Speedline delivers 2.5 to 4.2 mph higher clubhead speed and 3 to 9 yards more distance through more efficient airflow around the clubhead.
The "max game-improvement" Speedline Draw driver includes design features that "optimize distance for the recreational player," says Tim Reed, VP of R&D. "We accomplish this by adjusting the center of gravity back and toward the heel to give those golfers a high trajectory and draw bias."
Adams Speedline
$299, graphite; adamsgolf.com
It's for: All skill levels
Scott Burnett, Director of advanced product development: "We sorted through reams of data showing that 'large footprint' drivers create drag and slower clubhead speed. So we set out to design a superior driver that's aerodynamically shaped. We developed the Speedline through wind-tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics. The result is 50 percent less drag and more distance because of the increased clubhead speed."
How it works: Company research reveals that the crown in 460cc geometric drivers (large footprint, sloping crown, long from face to rear) creates lots of drag. The effect is that players swing these clubs 3 percent slower than standard 460cc heads. Speedline seeks to reverse this trend, and improve airflow, with a reshaped crown (peak height is much higher than topline), reduced frontal cross-sectional area (heel and toe cutouts) and "optimized" face. Adams says the Speedline delivers 2.5 to 4.2 mph higher clubhead speed and 3 to 9 yards more distance through more efficient airflow around the clubhead.
The "max game-improvement" Speedline Draw driver includes design features that "optimize distance for the recreational player," says Tim Reed, VP of R&D. "We accomplish this by adjusting the center of gravity back and toward the heel to give those golfers a high trajectory and draw bias."
CREDIT: Schecter Lee
