Better than two full weeks after we started, it’s finally time to wind down the 2008 gear guide. Keep in mind my 2008 dream bag is pure fantasy. As of yet, I have no plans to purchase any of what I’m about to list. In most cases, I haven’t even tried the clubs out (check back in mid-April for the 2nd annual "Tales from Demo Days posts").

Think of this as "what I would buy right now, if I lived on an deserted island with one golf course, no pro shop, but yet still had Fed Ex delivery. I can’t emphasize this enough; whenever you buy new clubs, it’s important to demo, demo and then demo again. Until I can actually do as much…on to the dream bag.

Golf Bag: Ogio Nexos

I’ll cop to being a big OGIO fan, so it shouldn’t really surprise anyone that 2 of my favorite 3 bags for 2008 are OGIOs. While I think the Club Count Technology in Cleveland’s V-14 Cart Bag is outstanding, the beauty and the functionality of the OGIO is too sexy a combo to pass up.

The only real choice was whether to go with the Exodus cart bag or the Nexos stand bag. With the feature set being pretty much equal, the added flexibility of the ARC Lite Stand System, the Nexos is a no brainer.

 

 

Driver: Nike Sumo 5000

I surprised myself a bit with this pick. I never imagined I would like this club, which further underscores the need to demo anything and everything you can. While I’m not in love with the wooden sound, I like just about everything else about this club. From the low gloss paint job, to the more traditional shape, the esthetics are solid.

The performance? I like that too. High draws are usually a good thing, and the Sumo 5000 let me hit ‘em.

With a whole lot of nothing too exciting on the driver market this year, my runner up is the TaylorMade R7 CGB Max Limited. With a little better initial offering it would have been a hands-down pick for the top spot, but a $1000 price tag, and initial inflexibility with respect to shaft options, even I can’t justify it.

 

 

3 Wood: TaylorMade R7 CGB Max

If I this was reality, I’d very likely carry identical 3 & 5 Woods, but since this is a dream bag, I’m going to go with 2 different clubs that I happen to like very much.

For a 3 Wood my 2008 dream club is the TaylorMade R7 CGB Max. I’ll buy into the high-MOI/forgiveness talk and take a shot on the unconventionally shaped head, and the moveable weights.

I’m not a big fan of the TaylorMade Rombax shaft that comes stock in this thing, so I’ll pay the upgrade charge and drop in my beloved Aldila VS Proto.

I’ll take the more forgiving club in this spot and save the fun for the 5 Wood.

 

 

5 Wood: Titleist 906F4

What I’m loosing in forgiveness, I’m making up with feel. It wouldn’t take much to convince myself that the 906F4 is every bit as forgiving (if not more so) than what I’m carrying now. It’s newer by 5 years, so it has to be, right? While a smarter man with my game would look for something more forgiving…I’m not a smart man, but I know what feel is, Jenny.

Just as I did with the R7 CGB Max, I’ll go ahead and throw in the VS Proto.

I’m fairly picky about my fairway clubs, which is probably why my current ones are the oldest sticks in my bag. I’m unlikely to change anytime soon, but if I did, the Cleveland HiBore XLS fairway would also get serious consideration. I liked last year’s model, and early reviews suggest this year’s model is even better.

If you prefer something boxy, or even square, both Nike and Callaway have squareway models.

 

 

Hybrid (3-iron Replacement): Cobra Baffler DWS

Just like I did with the fairway woods, I’m going to cheat and select two different hybrids, even though I’d more likely go with a matched pair. Actually, I’m more likely to pick one and carry an extra wedge, but I digress.

What’s not to like about the Baffler? Looks good, plays better. It’s perimeter weighted for high launch and forgiveness. It’s got a contoured sole for playability from just about any lie (it’s probably not very good out of the water). It’s got a big face with a huge sweet spot (sort of like one of my wife’s old bosses), and given how hugely popular the original was, there’s no way the 2008 Baffler won’t be a huge seller.

 

 

Hybrid (4-iron Replacement): Titleist 585H

A couple of quick points…technically the 585H isn’t new for ’08. It was new for ’07. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been carrying one since the middle of last summer.

Now that that’s out of the way…yup, I’m putting the 585H in my 2008 bag for no other reason than I own it and I love it. Great feel, great sound, and people better than me can actually work the ball as if it were an iron. I’ve hit the occasional beautiful draw, and controlled fade. I’ve also hit the occasional tree, and numerous small bodies of water. It’s the Indian, not the arrow, right?

Yes, there are more forgiving options, but I’m willing to sacrifice.

If I was as concerned about forgiveness as I should be, I’d take a serious look at the Ping G10 Hybrid (my 2nd choice among 2008 clubs), and the Adams Golf Idea a3 Boxer.

 

 

Irons (5-PW): Cobra UFI

I don’t consider myself a Titleist guy or an Acushnet guy for that matter, but here we are 2/3 of the way through the dream bag, and I’ve put 4 different clubs (or sets of clubs) from the Acushnet company into my dream bag. How the hell did that happen?

For those of you who actually know me and are wondering if I’m about to trade-in my Callaway X-20 Tours for these sweet looking Cobras, the answer is a fairly definitive NO.

This is more about me giving credit for a bit of actual innovation. With every iron maker doing just about the same thing, it’s nice to see something a little bit different. Replacing some of the steel on the topline in order to gain measurable mass around the perimeter is unconventional, and perhaps a bit bold, but in an era where too many of the damn clubs look the same, I wholeheartedly applaud Cobra for actually trying something new.

My pick for single-digit handicappers are the Titleist ZM Irons (just edging out the Mizuno MP-37). Although I’m not a fan of bulky ultra-game improvement irons, I’ll begrudgingly suggest that the new Nike SUMO irons are worth taking some swings with.

 

 

Wedges (3 of ‘em): Scratch Golf

Here’s a case where I’d give serious thought to replacing what’s in my bag now. Granted, I haven’t had opportunity to test a Scratch Wedge, but I’m salivating over the concept. You describe your swing and your playing conditions, and they build you a custom wedge. That’s right, a wedge designed just for you; as if you were a real golfer or something.

Nobody offers more choice in loft, sole, grind, and finish. Hey Scratch guys…wanna send me 1 or 3 to try?

If you’re only willing to scratch the surface of what’s available to you in the way of wedges… I’m liking C-Grind offerings from both Callaway and Mizuno. For those looking for some vibration reduction/cushioning, the Cleveland CG-14, and Nickent ARC wedges are solid offerings.

 

 

Putter: Bettinardi (Mizuno) BC2

I’m admittedly a little torn here. I’ve been in love with Bettinardi putters for years now (I own one), but as I said in a previous post, I keep coming back to my Rossa Monza. It’s a bit of a cop out, but the story I’m going with is:

If I’m in the mood for a blade, I’m playing the new Bettinardi BC2. I love the look, and the insert that’s not actually an insert design. It really does sound like the best of both worlds. $300 is a bit pricey, but my opinion, if $325 is a fair price for a Scotty Cameron, a Bettinardi should cost at least $350. It’s a better putter people. There, I said it.

If I’m in the mood for a mallet, I’m taking a shot on the new Rossa Spider. Granted it looks like the USS Enterprise, but I’ve done my best putting with a Rossa, and the new alignment system looks like a winner. Besides, I’m a sucker for anything with moveable weights, and the Rossa Spider has got ‘em.

If neither the Spider or the BC2 work for you, and your all about the latest in science, I’d look at both the Nike IC series, and the Cleveland VP series.

One final word before we move on: The absolute worst product I’ve seen for 2008 falls loosely into this category. I can’t say enough bad things about the Odyssey Marxman X-Act Putting wedge. It’s really Callaway/Odyssey’s way of saying, "You suck, try this". There is nothing that this club can do that you can’t do with 3-4 other clubs in your bag.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it has decent feel, and works as advertised, but the putting wedge (and any chipper for that matter) is a crutch. Unless you’ve already given up on improving your short game the right way, there’s really no point. It has a loft of 37°which is going to be pretty close to an 8-iron, and I’m thinking you probably already have one of those. Do you really need another, especially one that’s only good from 15 yards in?

 

 

Balls: Nike One Black

It’s a banner year for golf balls. There are new versions of the premium Nike One Series, TaylorMade TP and Callaway Tour I, and Tour IX. If you’re looking to spend a little less, there’s the Nike Karma, Callaway HX Hot Bite, TaylorMade Burner, and Titleist DT Series.

For better or worse, my swing is right in the Nike One Black wheelhouse, so if money is no object (and in this dream it isn’t), I’ll play Nike One Black’s all day long. The budget golfer in me wants to try the Titleist DT Carry

If you don’t dream in Black and Platinum, check out the new Callaways and the brand new TaylorMade Burner and Burner TP. Improved E6+ balls from Bridgestone are a good options as well.

For those with less than $20 to spend, you won’t do better than the Nike Power Distance Soft.

Finally, if spin is your problem, check out the odd-looking, but perfectly legal, Dimpleless Featherie from Caesar golf.

Thus concludes WhatTheDeuce’s 2008 Gear Guide. I’m already wound up and ready to go for demo days in early August where I’ll actually get to try most of this stuff out. You can expect a series of hands on reviews to follow.

In the meantime, what’s in your 2008 dream bag?