First Look: Cobra Golf Baffler XL Hybrid

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, November 25th, 2013
Categories: Golf Clubs • Golf Equipment • Golf Gear
Tags: Cobra Golf • golf clubs • Golf Equipment

Golf gear alert! In for review here at Hooked On Golf Blog is the latest and greatest hybrid from Cobra Golf, part of the new Baffler XL lineup. This one is a 19 degree Baffler XL Hybrid.

Cobra Golf – Baffler XL Hybrid

These pictures look great but the club is even more pretty when it is sitting in your hands.

Assuming it doesn’t snow, I’ll be putting this new hybrid from Cobra to the test. Stay tuned for my review but until then, check out this gallery of Cobra Baffler XL Hybrid photos.

Holiday Golf Gift Guide – Golf Shoes

Written by: Tony Korologos | Sunday, November 24th, 2013
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear
Tags: Black Friday • Golf Gifts • Holiday Golf Gift

Each year I write a holiday gift guide around Thanksgiving. I usually include many random items from golf equipment to golf apparel. Those articles feature a comment or two about the item, plus a link to my original product article or review.

I’m going to do something a little different this year. Rather than putting a bunch of random items into one post, I’m going to post a few more focused golf gift guides. This one will be shoes.

Holiday Golf Gift Guide – Golf Shoes

FootJoy M:Project

FootJoy M:Project Spikeless

When looking back the the shoe reviews I’ve done this year, and there are many, I’d be inclined to give FootJoy’s new M:Project the best golf shoe of 2013. The M:Project is a departure for the normally conservative FJ in its appearance, in a good way. Not only are these shoes very stylish, they’re perhaps the most comfortable golf shoe from FJ I’ve ever worn.

The M:Project comes in spiked and spikeless flavors. Check out the Hooked On Golf Blog FootJoy M:Project golf shoe spiked review and the M:Project spikeless golf shoe review.

GoBe Prodigy Golf Shoes

GoBe Golf Prodigy-Black/Red Golf Shoes – click for more images

GoBe is a new player in the golf shoe market.

The new GoBe Prodigy golf shoe is a hybrid street/golf shoe with great comfort, performance and best of all, a very cool look.

The GoBe Prodigy shoes are 20x more water resistant than treated leather golf shoes.

Puma Faas Lite Mesh Golf Shoes

Puma Faas Lite Mesh Golf Shoe

I really dig Puma golf shoes. They’re always very stylish and trendy, with all sorts of great innovations.

The Puma Faas Lite Mesh golf shoes are the lightest golf shoes on the planet (currently). They’re like wearing super-light sneakers, only more comfortable and better looking.

The treads are very innovative with their “SmartQuill” pattern and flex grooves. Great traction.

Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip

Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip Golf Shoes – click to see more

I’d have to say the best looking shoe I’ve reviewed in 2013 is the Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip. You could wear this shoe to a wedding, then run out to the adjoining golf course to squeeze in nine holes between the ceremony and the reception.

Not only are they fantastic looking, the Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip is as comfortable as wearing a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers.

Conclusion

Whether you’re going for comfort, performance, style or a bit of each, the list above has you covered for great holiday golf gifts!

Best golf blooper ever? Chi Chi Rodriguez hits himself in the Chi Chi’s

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, November 21st, 2013
Categories: Champions Tour • Golf Videos • Miscellaneous • Pro Golf
Tags: Chi Chi Rodriguez • Golf Channel • The Big Break

This is sure to be all over the web, everywhere, but I had to post it anyway because it’s so damn funny. I’ve had the pleasure of hanging out with golf legend Chi Chi Rodriguez on many occasion. He’s such a cool cat, full of so many stories.

During an appearance in Puerto Rico (his home) on Golf Channel’s Big Break NFL, Chi Chi’s attempt at the “break the glass” gig went terribly wrong.

An instant classic.

Staying Warm on the Golf Course – Dunning Base Layer Review

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
Categories: Golf Apparel • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Dunning Golf

Dunning Base Layer Long Sleeve – click to zoom

After yesterday’s round I must post this review today. In northern Utah golfing in late November is not common because it is either too cold or the courses are closed due to snow. Since I hadn’t played for 21 days and the wind was down, I decided to brave the cold and play some golf with a good friend. Thanks to my Dunning Layering system, the only cold part of the round was my putting.

Dunning Base Layer Overview

The Dunning Base Layer system is made from 100% merino wool, one of the finest wools available. The merino wool in the base layer is fantastic at regulating body temperature, especially in keeping the player warm and insulated in cold conditions.

Dunning offers two options for the top portion of the base layer (the upper body). There is a short sleeve shirt base layer ($89.00) or a long sleeve version ($99.00). Sizes for the top section come in small, medium, large, extra-large and double extra-large. The only color offered is black.

The bottom portion of the base layer comes in the form of boxer briefs, with three styles to choose from. Sizes for the boxer briefs are small, medium, large, extra-large and double extra-large.

On The Course, At The Game, On The Slopes?

I’m normally pretty picky about the temperatures I’ll be willing to golf in. Anything below 55F is usually a no-go with my sketchy back. Yesterday’s temps were sub 50’s and hovering around the 40’s when the round was over. With my base layer system rocking, I was nice and warm and somehow hitting the ball very well to the point of being 20-30 yards longer than normal. The base layer helped keep me warm so I could focus on playing good golf, not on how cold I was.

I’ve worn the base layer system for two of the last home Utah football games here. My seats are in the west stands, which can be very cold when the sun goes behind them. I’ve nearly frozen to death several times at November football games. Not the case this year. The base layer has been a huge help.

Soon the golf courses here will be permanently closed due to snow. At that point I’ll be hanging up the golf clubs and heading up to Utah’s greatest snow on earth for some skiing. I’m looking forward to putting my base layer into play on the slopes. I like to suggest to my friends at Dunning they they make a long-underwear version of the boxer briefs.

Dunning Merino Wool Boxer Brief Base Layer

Conclusion

Dunning’s base layer components are not cheap. They could certainly be more expensive than the regular apparel items they would be underneath. That cost is offset immediately by the performance, comfort and especially the warmth the system provides. Thanks to the Dunning layering system, I can enjoy outside activities like golf, football, and soon skiing.

Related Links

The Base Layer would go great with the Dunning Golf Stretch Thermal ¼-zip pull-over as well as the Dunning Stretch Pique Multi Stripe Polo.

Check out the Hooked On Golf Blog Dunning image gallery.

Winter Golf Can Be Fun

Written by: Tony Korologos | Tuesday, November 19th, 2013
Categories: Golf • Golf Life • Hackers

River Oaks Golf Course, Sandy, Utah – click to zoom

I snuck out of the office an hour early and hooked up with good buddy Dan for nine holes at River Oaks this afternoon. It has been very cold here, raining and with snow in higher elevations. A storm had just blown off when we teed off on our first hole, #10.

Normally I’ve got no desire to play in the cold. Armed with some marginal temperatures, no wind (very important), and some great layering golf apparel, I gave it a shot. Glad I did. We had a blast and we were the ONLY people on the back nine. If you can bear the cold during the offseason in the colder areas of north america, it could be the best time to play. Today the play was fast, the greens were smooth and there was no waiting on any shot.

Strangely I had one of my best ball striking rounds of the year. Despite the cold my drives were about 30-40 yards longer than normal. I out-drove Dan by some 75 yards on a few occasions. The irons seemed to be compressing the ball perfectly. The 4-iron on #16 went 240 and that’s in 40 degree temps! It was quite satisfying to hit the ball so purely having not touched a golf club for exactly 21 days.

The round today inspires me to come up with another post, something like “top five reasons to play winter golf.”

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